China Outer Space Science, Technology and Explorations: News & Updates

[JSCh]

China is considering a nuclear-powered mission to #Neptune @universetoday https://doi.org/gqg6w2

https://twitter.com/x/status/1546862720300904448

 

[JSCh]

Astronomers Have Spotted a Record-Breaking Magnetic Field in Space, And It's Epic

https://twitter.com/x/status/1547866925094486025

https://twitter.com/x/status/1544456260568829953

 

[JSCh]

Scientists at Huazhong University of Science and Technology are proposing to use lunar soil to make buildings at the moon. The egg-shaped design provides a living area on top and a work area below. The team produced the first model using 3D printing technique recently.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1548137846111870976

 

[JSCh]

科技日报​

22-8-27 13:42​

来自 微博 weibo.com​

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【航天推进迎来核动力：#我国首个空间核反应堆通过验收#】8月25日，由中国科学院院士吴宜灿牵头的国家重点研发计划“兆瓦级超小型液态金属冷却空间核反应堆电源” 顺利通过了科技部组织的项目综合绩效评价。​

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专家组认为，该项目成果形成了一套技术参数处于国际先进水平的兆瓦级锂冷空间核反应堆电源创新设计，建成了锂冷空间核反应堆非核集成原理样机，运行温度为同类装置国际最高，在设计软件及数字样机、关键设备工艺样件、集成原理样机等方面取得系列研究成果，为我国空间核反应堆电源的研发提供了一条可供选择的技术路线，有助于推动我国航天与核能技术创新发展。（科技日报记者 吴长锋 受访者供图）​

Science and Technology Daily
22-8-27 13:42 from Weibo

[Aerospace propulsion ushered in nuclear power: China's first space nuclear reactor development plan passed acceptance]

On August 25, the national key research and development plan "megawatt-scale ultra-small liquid metal cooling space nuclear reactor power supply" led by Wu Yican, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, successfully passed comprehensive performance evaluation organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The expert panel believes the plan have formed a set of innovative power supply designs for megawatt-class lithium-cooled space nuclear reactors whose technical parameters are at the international advanced level. A non-nuclear integrated lithium-cooled space nuclear reactor prototype was built, its operating temperature is the highest in the world for similar devices. A series of research results have been achieved in design software and digital model, key equipment process prototypes, and integration principle prototypes, which are used for the research and development of China's space nuclear reactor. It provides a viable technical route and helps to push innovation and development of China's aerospace nuclear energy technologies. (Photo provided by the interviewee, Wu Changfeng, reporter of Science and Technology Daily)

 

[JSCh]

China航天​

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22-9-5 20:06​

发布于 海南​

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【航天科技集团六院9月5日两款发动机成功试车】9月5日，航天科技六院集团25吨级闭式膨胀循环氢氧发动机首次整机热试车圆满成功，这是世界上最大规模的闭式膨胀循环发动机试车，标志着重型运载火箭关键技术之一的闭式膨胀循环氢氧发动机研制取得重大突破。​

9月5日上午，航天科技集团六院165所凤州试验区502号试车台，首次完成大推力液氧煤油泵后摆发动机长程研制试车。本次试车系该试车台建台以来承担的第22种型号发动机试验任务,也是继2005年10月后，时隔17年再次承担大推力液氧煤油发动机研制试验任务，标志着165所正式具备大推力液氧煤油发动机两地试车能力。​

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China Aerospace
22-9-5 20:06
Posted in Hainan

[The Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group successfully tested two engines on September 5]

On September 5, the 25-ton closed expansion cycle hydrogen-oxygen engine of the Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group was successfully tested for the first time. This is the world's most powerful closed-expansion-cycle engine test run, marking a major breakthrough in the development of a closed-expansion-cycle hydrogen-oxygen engine, one of the key technologies for heavy-duty launch vehicles.

On the morning of September 5th, the 165th Institute of the Sixth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group at Test bench No. 502 in Fengzhou Experimental Zone, completed the long-range development test of the high-thrust post-pump gimbal liquid oxygen kerosene engine for the first time. This test is the 22nd type of engine test task undertaken by the test bench since its establishment. It is also the first time in 17 years since October 2005 to undertake the development and test task of high-thrust liquid oxygen kerosene engine, marking that 165 engines are officially equipped with High-thrust liquid oxygen kerosene engine test run capability in two places.

SCMP reported on the plan for the YF-79 engine Jan 2022.

China space programme plans year of milestones for Long March 9 engines

The YF-79 will be one of the world’s most powerful when completed and is on schedule for whole-of-machine testing in 2022.

www.scmp.com

https://archive.ph/1AHyo

 

[JSCh]

China Discovers New Mineral in Moon for First Time: CNSA​

 

[JSCh]

China conducts first flight test for domestically developed reusable liquid rocket engine​

By Deng Xiaoci
Published: Sep 14, 2022 12:42 AM

Photo: Wechat account of the 6th Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China's aerospace technology researchers announced Tuesday that for the first time the country has conducted a verification flight test on a domestically developed reusable liquid oxygen kerosene engine. The successful maiden flight test marks a major breakthrough in engine reusability development, the Global Times learned from the developers.

The reusable engine model was developed by Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute, a subsidiary of the 6th Academy of the state-owned aerospace giant China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

In the verification flight test, the engine first served as the main engine in the maiden flight and after being inspected and maintained, successfully supported another repeated flight test, realizing the reuse of liquid rocket propulsion for the first time in the country's aerospace history, according to the Xi'an-based developers.

Zhang Xiaojun, head of the Xi'an-based institute, said it showed that engine reusability technology in the country has reached a practical use stage, and he vowed that they will continue to explore technology solutions in order to provide robust support for the country's space program.

The Xi'an institute did not reveal the thrust of the engine or what launch vehicle was deployed in the flight test as of press time. The CASC Sixth Academy told the Global Times that further details concerning the test would be released on Wednesday.

The US Space Shuttle Maine Engine (SSME) achieved partial reusability in the 1980s, but the SSME did not reach its designed capability of being reusable for 55 flights in practice before its retirement with the Space Shuffle in 2011. According to Mark Adler, a former NASA JPL system engineer, each Space Shuttle Main Engine was designed for 55 flights but they actually flew an average of about 10 flights each.

Technology developed by SpaceX known as the reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing rocket (VTVL) which conducted a successful landing in 2015 and at a sea platform in 2016 marked the latest development of reusable launch vehicle technology in the 21st century.

China's new generation medium-sized launch vehicle Long March-8 made a successful maiden flight in December 2020. It is believed to have the potential to be reusable in the future. According to plans revealed by the CASC, the first stage of Long March-8 is expected to become reusable 10 times by 2025, and by 2035, the entire rocket is expected to be reusable.

Long March-8's enhanced variant in the future could be the first Chinese rocket to become a VTVL launcher, space observers said.

China conducts first flight test for domestically developed reusable liquid rocket engine - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[JSCh]

MBRSC and the China National Space Administration sign a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on future Moon missions involving the landing of an MBRSC rover aboard a CNSA lander.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1570732806422269959

 

[JSCh]

China releases first batch of research from Mars exploration

https://twitter.com/x/status/1571416233374883840

 

[JSCh]

科工力量​

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22-9-22 15:45​

发布于 上海​

来自 微博 weibo.com​

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#霍尔推进系统首次成功完成低轨卫星升轨任务#​

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近日，由航天科技集团五院502所研制的300瓦霍尔推进系统成功完成某低轨卫星的升轨任务，将卫星轨道提升近300公里。这是我国采用电推进系统首次完整执行低轨卫星的变轨任务，验证了全电推进低轨星座卫星的变轨能力。此次任务的成功是我国电推进空间应用的又一次里程碑。​

Scientific and technological strength
22-9-22 15:45
Posted in Shanghai
from Weibo

Hall propulsion system successfully completed the first low-orbit satellite orbit raising mission

Recently, the 300-watt-Hall propulsion system developed by the 502 Institute of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group successfully completed the orbit-raising mission of a low-orbit satellite, raising the satellite orbit by nearly 300 kilometers. This is the first time that my country has used the electric propulsion system to complete the orbit change task of a low-orbit satellite, which verifies the orbit change capability of the all-electric propulsion low-orbit satellite. The success of this mission is another milestone in the space application of electric propulsion in my country.

 

[JSCh]

Astronomers unveil new—and puzzling—features of mysterious #fastradiobursts
@unlvnews
@nature https://doi.org/gqvj2d

https://twitter.com/x/status/1572863858355671040

https://twitter.com/x/status/1572846326085451777

 

[JSCh]

Regulator gives go-ahead to major Xinjiang telescope
By Zhang Zhihao | China Daily | Updated: 2018-01-12 08:51

Plans to build one of the world's largest moving single-dish radio telescopes in northwestern China have been given the green light, it was announced on Thursday.

The National Development and Reform Commission approved the Qitai Radio Telescope on Dec 26 and a timeline for construction is expected soon, said Jiang Chenfeng, a spokeswoman for the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory.

The observatory and the Chinese Academy of Sciences will build the facility in Qitai county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which is seen as an ideal spot due to its high altitude, arid climate and lack of human activity.

Once completed, it will be one of the world's largest fully rotatable radio telescopes－at a diameter of 110 meters it will be slightly larger than the Green Bank Telescope in the United States and the Effelsberg Radio Telescope in Germany－as well as the largest movable radio telescope in Asia and a platform for international science cooperation.

Wang Na, head of the observatory, told Science and Technology Daily that the Qitai Radio Telescope will improve Xinjiang's fundamental research and innovation capabilities, be a centerpiece of the region's first world-class observatory, and attract more science talent to western China.

The main goals of the telescope will be detecting and studying pulsars, black holes, dark matter, gravitational waves and other stellar objects. It will also play a role in collecting orbit trajectory, space signals and key data for China's future manned space missions.

China houses the world's largest single-dish telescope－the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, known as FAST－in a natural basin in Pingtang county, Guizhou province.

The Qitai facility will be much smaller than FAST, but it will cover more than 75 percent of the sky and be able to track star positions due to its ability to move its dish, according to the observatory. Stationary telescopes can only detect the swath of the universe that passes directly overhead.

However, designing a large rotatable telescope is no easy task. Engineers must figure out how to steadily balance a telescope dish weighing thousands of tons and full of sensitive equipment at awkward angles, according to NASA data.

One hundred meters is about the maximum size for safely and accurately controlling a moving radio dish, the US space agency said. It added that operating a rotatable telescope can also be extremely expensive. The Green Bank Telescope costs about $10 million a year.

Finally construction start.

National Astronomical Observatories of China broke ground for world's largest 110-m Aperture Steerable Radio Telescope, QiTai radio Telescope (QTT), in Qitai County, Xinjiang. The construction is expected to take 6 years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1573049998752632833

 

[JSCh]

China’s Mars rover finds hints of catastrophic floods

https://twitter.com/x/status/1574650293370986499

https://twitter.com/x/status/1574452997651922944

 

[JSCh]

Article has nothing to do with China space program, just interesting read.

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How Should the World's Governments Respond if We Detect an Alien Civilization?
https://universetoday.com/157924/how-should-the-worlds-governments-respond-if-we-detect-an-alien-civilization/

https://twitter.com/x/status/1577740553650929667

 

[JSCh]

Launch tomorrow.

Scheduled to be launched coming October.

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China launched a naming event on Mon for its 1st satellite for #solar physics study, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S) is a mission dedicated to solar physics and is the 1st Chinese satellite for solar physics study.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1546320874273288192

China’s first solar observatory aims to solve mysteries of the Sun’s eruptions

https://twitter.com/x/status/1578383267639730177