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

[cirr]

China to launch new Earth observation satellite in May

2018-04-25 16:52 Xinhua Editor: Gu Liping

China is to launch Gaofen-5, a hyperspectral imaging satellite for Earth observation, at the beginning of May.

The new satellite, capable of obtaining spectral information from ultraviolet to long-wave infrared radiation, can be used to survey inland waters and mineral resources, said Tong Xudong, director of the Earth Observation System and Data Center, China National Space Administration (CNSA), at a conference Tuesday.

The satellite can also monitor air pollutants, greenhouse gases and aerosol particles, Tong said.

To make the best use of observational data and serve countries covered by the Belt and Road Initiative, the CNSA released an international cooperation plan for Gaofen-5, specifying fields that will be open for cooperation and commercial service.

The administration also plans to launch Gaofen-6 this year, so as to form a constellation with other Gaofen satellites in orbit.

Since the Gaofen project began in 2010, China has had an increasingly clearer view of the planet. Launched in April 2013, Gaofen-1 can cover the globe in just four days.

Gaofen-2, sent into space in August 2014, is accurate to 0.8 meters in full color and can collect multispectral images of objects greater than 3.2 meters in length.

Gaofen-4, launched in late 2015, is China's first geosynchronous orbit high-definition optical imaging satellite.

Gaofen-3, launched in August 2016, is China's first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging satellite.

 

[JSCh]

China has technological basis for manned lunar landing: space expert
Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-26 03:51:30|Editor: yan


HARBIN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China has the technological basis for a manned lunar landing, says Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program.

Human exploration of the universe would not stop in low-Earth orbit as China was drawing up the blueprint for manned space development after the construction of its space station, Zhou told a space conference in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

With Mars as a long-term target and the Moon as a transition goal, manned lunar expeditions were a focus for global space activities.

"We have had in-depth discussions with many experts about manned lunar exploration, and conducted research on key technologies in recent years," Zhou said.

He also introduced the plan for China's space station, which is expected to be completed around 2022.

The development of the capsules for the station had started, said Zhou, and many advanced technologies would be used to construct and operate the station.

China's Tiangong space station, weighing 66 tonnes, would consist of the Tianhe core capsule and the Wentian and Mengtian lab capsules. The station could be enlarged to 180 tonnes if required for scientific research. It could accommodate three to six astronauts and was designed to last at least 10 years, said Zhou, but this could be prolonged through in-orbit maintenance.

The station would stay in orbit at an altitude of about 393 kilometers. A capsule flying in the same orbit would hold a large optical telescope with a field of view 200 times larger than that of the Hubble space telescope. It could dock with the space station if necessary.

While smaller than the International Space Station (ISS), the construction and materials supply of China's space station would be close to the ISS, and its technologies in information, energy and dynamic systems were more advanced.

Its main purpose would be cutting-edge scientific research, including space medicine, space life sciences and biotechnology, material sciences, microgravity basic physics, astronomy and astrophysics.

"Constructing the space station, which is a complicated large structure, is a new challenge, but it will push forward the development of space technology," Zhou said.

"We will also test the key technologies needed for human deep space exploration."

 

[Nan Yang]

Chinese Deep Space Exploration


Moon

2007: Chang'e-1 Orbiter
2010: Chang'e-2 Orbiter
2013: Chang'e-3 Softlanding, Rover
2018: Chang'e-4 Lander and Rover, Exploration of Far side of the Moon
2019: Chang'e-5 Return sample (in Oceanus Procellarum and collect 2 kilograms of regolith)
2024: Chang'e-6 Return sample (Exploration of South Pole of the Moon?)

Mars

2011: Yinghuo-1 Mars orbiter (failed)
2020: Orbiter (1 Martian Year), landing, cruising (90 Martian days for Rover)
2028: Sample Return (3 years mission)

Asteroids

2012: Chang'e-2 flyby of asteroid 4179 Toutatis
2024: Flying by, touch down or sample return; 2-3 asteroids explorations in one mission

Jupiter

2030: Orbiter launch

Arrival at Jupiter and its satellites by 2036

Saturn

Arrival at Saturn by 2045

Uranus

Arrival at Uranus by 2048

Spoiler: Links

https://defence.pk/pdf/attachments/...7/?temp_hash=c22f0c51a629a4bec70fbe7dcd26c6fc
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DbE7UofVQAA4J7E.jpg

▲ Chinese Deep Space Exploration

There is one more Chang'e mission. The one that made a round trip to the moon and returned to earth.

Chang'e 5-T1
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'e_5-T1

 

[beijingwalker]

China plans to build manned 'lunar palace' powered by the sun

• Neil Connor, in beijing

25 APRIL 2018 • 6:48PM
China has announced plans to build a manned moon base which will explore lunar resources and act as a launchpad for missions to Mars.

The lunar outpost is expected to have "multiple tube cabins that interconnect and provide oxygen to people inside", according to a video seen by Chinese media.

The "scientific research" base, which will be partly sustained by solar power, marks the latest step in an ambitious space programme that is being spearheaded by Beijing.

"We believe that the Chinese nation's dream of residing in a 'lunar palace' will soon become a reality," China's National Space Administration said in video which outlines the plans, the China Daily said.

The newspaper said it was the first time that China had made public plans for a lunar outpost.

In April last year, a Chinese space official said Beijing was discussing a future moon outpost with the European Space Agency, but few details later emerged.

In November, administration officials said that China "is conducting a feasibility study for a robotic outpost on the lunar surface to conduct scientific research and technological experiments," the China Daily added. No schedule for the construction of the new base were revealed, or details on how it would be operated.


China is send a lunar probe to the far side of the moon later this year.

The mission will also involve an ambitious experiment which scientist hope will see flowers, potatoes and silkworms being grown on the lunar surface.

China became the third country to put a man in space with its own rocket in 2003 and it carried out a lunar rover mission ten years later.

Space watchers believe China aims to land a man on the moon sometime after 2030, while last year an official said that it would “not take long” before Beijing approved a manned lunar project.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/25/china-plans-build-manned-lunar-palace-powered-sun/

 

[JSCh]

China航天
13分钟前 来自 Android
4月26日12点42分酒泉卫星发射中心用长征11号以一箭五星方式发射欧比特第二组卫星（多彩贵州）

At 12:42 on April 26th, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center used the Long March 11 to launch Zhuhai-1 second set of five-satellites (colorful Guizhou)


China launches Zhuhai-1 remote sensing satellites
Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-26 15:34:14|Editor: ZX


JIUQUAN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday sent five Zhuhai-1 remote sensing satellites into space on a single carrier rocket.

The Long March-11 carrier rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:42 p.m. The launch was the 272nd flight mission for the Long March series of carrier rockets.

Zhuhai-1 is a commercial remote sensing satellite constellation invested in by Zhuhai Orbita Aerospace Science and Technology Co. It will provide data services for areas including agriculture, land and water resources, environmental protection and transport.

China launched two Zhuhai-1 satellites on June 15, 2017.

 

[TaiShang]

Private space company in China will produce 10 rockets annually

(People's Daily Online) 13:26, April 26, 2018

China’s private space company Landspace recently announced plans to expand its general assembly factory. After expansion, the factory will be able to produce up to 200 rocket engines and 10 rockets every year, thepaper.cn reported.

The expansion is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of this year, 2018. According to the plan, a research and testing facility for liquid propellant engines and carrier rockets will be established in the company’s manufacturing base, located in Huzhou, eastern China’s Zhejiang province.

Landspace's manufacturing base

After the expansion, Landspace will be able to independently develop and produce methane rocket engines, becoming the first private company in China to realize mass production of such engines. In recent years, the private sector has played an increasingly important role in the commercial space industry. Between 2013 and 2016, the SpaceX expanded its market share from 13% to 37%.

China’s first joint-venture investment bank China International Capital Corporation Limited believes that the domestic Chinese market will also be broadened, given the sound development at both supply and demand ends of the commercial space industry.

Headquarters of the Landspace in Beijing

@cirr , @JSCh , @long_

 

[cirr]

Private space company in China will produce 10 rockets annually

(People's Daily Online) 13:26, April 26, 2018

China’s private space company Landspace recently announced plans to expand its general assembly factory. After expansion, the factory will be able to produce up to 200 rocket engines and 10 rockets every year, thepaper.cn reported.

The expansion is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of this year, 2018. According to the plan, a research and testing facility for liquid propellant engines and carrier rockets will be established in the company’s manufacturing base, located in Huzhou, eastern China’s Zhejiang province.

Landspace's manufacturing base

After the expansion, Landspace will be able to independently develop and produce methane rocket engines, becoming the first private company in China to realize mass production of such engines. In recent years, the private sector has played an increasingly important role in the commercial space industry. Between 2013 and 2016, the SpaceX expanded its market share from 13% to 37%.

China’s first joint-venture investment bank China International Capital Corporation Limited believes that the domestic Chinese market will also be broadened, given the sound development at both supply and demand ends of the commercial space industry.

Headquarters of the Landspace in Beijing

@cirr , @JSCh , @long_

新干线一号（NewLine-1）回收构型亮相！今年的亚轨道回收，敬请期待.

https://weibo.com/linkspacechina?profile_ftype=1&is_all=1#_rnd1524798433827

 

[cirr]

China sees rocket tech boost

2018-04-27 13:25 Global Times Editor: Li Yan

Nation in position to 'challenge U.S. monopoly'

China will master rocket recycling technology on its new CZ-8 carrier rocket by 2020 and challenge the U.S. monopoly in the field, China Media Group reported on Thursday.

A Chinese expert said that if the agenda can be realized on time, China will become the world's second rocket power to master the technology, offering the prospect of a reduction in cost for carrier rockets.

At an aerospace industry seminar on Tuesday, leading Chinese carrier rocket designer Long Lehao said that China is expected to realize vertical recycling - similar to the technology employed by U.S.-based firm SpaceX - by 2020 at the earliest on its CZ-8 rockets. This will further lower the price tag of a launch and boost China's chances of getting international commercial satellite launch orders, the CCTV report said.

Price factor

Lan Tianyi, founder of Beijing-based Ultimate Blue Nebula Co, a space industry consultancy, said China will become the second rocket power to have this capacity, putting the country ahead of Russia and the EU.

However, Lan said that while the aim of recycling rockets is to reduce costs for launch operators, whether this can be achieved remains to be seen.

The recycled rockets developed by SpaceX are reported to have helped the company reduce launch costs by as much as 30 percent, according to media reports.

"There is no way to verify SpaceX's claim, as it is the only company that owns the technology, and China has to wait for the moment when it has successfully recycled a rocket to see whether the costs can be lowered," Lan told the Global Times on Thursday.

Yang Yuguang, a research fellow with the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, agreed.

SpaceX claims that a reusable rocket just needs refueling and a few replacement parts before blasting off again, but it's not that simple, Yang said.

"Even when the rocket is recycled, it needs to be checked, refurbished and serviced, and all this costs money," Yang said. "There is also the issue of how many times the rocket can be recycled, and whether that will be enough to bring down costs."

So far, SpaceX has only conducted a few launches with used rockets and the company has not achieved profitability, Yang pointed out.

"In the time period since the U.S. has mastered the recycled rocket technology, there has not been much impact on China's orders," Lan said.

"In fact, it is the U.S.' pursuit of recycled space transport vehicles that has delayed the U.S. rocket sector, and opened up a precious window for Europe's Ariane rockets and Chinese rockets to take off in the global commercial launch market," Yang told the Global Times on Thursday.

According to Lan, compared with other countries that offer rocket launching technology, China enjoys a cost advantage and offers a one-stop solution for clients, including all the services and management procedures.

Lan said clients for China's pure-launch service include South America countries, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark and Poland while those for satellite plus launch services include Laos, Algeria, Nigeria, Bolivia, Venezuela and Belarus.

http://www.ecns.cn/2018/04-27/300689.shtml

 

[qwerrty]

新干线一号（NewLine-1）回收构型亮相！今年的亚轨道回收，敬请期待.

https://weibo.com/linkspacechina?profile_ftype=1&is_all=1#_rnd1524798433827

when are they gonna lunch it? i wish they have same government support and budget like spacex..
it's ridiculous that the yanks complaining about china supporting local companies. if not for us gov giving contracts and free tech transfer from nasa, spacex would not be here today. lol

 

[JSCh]

FAST’s First Discovery of a Millisecond Pulsar
Apr 28, 2018

China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), still under commissioning, discovered a radio millisecond pulsar (MSP) coincident with the unassociated gamma-ray source 3FGL J0318.1+0252 in the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) point-source list. This is another milestone of FAST.

FAST, world's largest single-dish radio telescope, operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), has discovered more than 20 new pulsars so far. This first MSP discovery was made by FAST on Feb. 27, 2018 and later confirmed by the Fermi-LAT team in reprocessing of Fermi data on April 18, 2018.

The newly discovered pulsar, now named PSR J0318+0253, is confirmed to be isolated through timing of gamma-ray pulsations. This discovery is the first result from the FAST-Fermi LAT collaboration outlined in a MoU signed between the FAST team and Fermi-LAT team.

"This discovery demonstrated the great potential of FAST in pulsar searching, highlighting the vitality of the large aperture radio telescope in the new era," said Kejia Lee, scientist at the Kavli Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University.

Radio follow-up of Fermi-LAT unassociated sources is an effective way for finding new pulsars. Previous radio observations, including three epochs with Arecibo in June 2013, failed to detect the MSP. In a one-hour tracking observation with the FAST ultra-wide band receiver, the radio pulses toward 3FGL J0318.1+0252 were detected with a spin period of 5.19 milliseconds, an estimated distance of about 4 thousand light-years, and as potentially one of the faintest radio MSPs.

Millisecond pulsar is a special kind of neutron stars that rotate hundreds of times per second. It is not only expected to play an important role in understanding the evolution of neutron stars and the equation of state of dense matter, but also can be used to detect low-frequency gravitational waves.

The pulsar timing array (PTA) attempts to detect low-frequency gravitational waves from merging supermassive black holes using the long-term timing of a set of stable millisecond pulsars. Pulsar search is the basis of gravitational wave detection through PTAs.

The planned Commensal Radio Astronomy FAST Survey (CRAFTS, arxiv:1802.03709; http://crafts.bao.ac.cn/) is expected to discover many millisecond pulsars and thus will make significant contribution to the PTA experiment.

"The international radio-astronomy community is excited about the amazing FAST telescope, already showing its power in these discoveries. FAST will soon discover a large number of millisecond pulsars and I am looking forward to seeing FAST's contribution to gravitational wave detection," said George Hobbs, scientist of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia and member of the Gravitational Wave International Committee (GWIC).

FAST will be under commissioning until it reaches the designed specifications and becomes a Chinese national facility.

The Gamma-ray sky map and integrated pulse profiles of the new MSP: Upper panel shows the region of the gamma-ray sky where the new MSP is located. Lower panel a) shows the observed radio pulses in a one-hour tracking observation of FAST. Lower panel b) shows the folded pulses from more than 9 years of Fermi-LAT gamma-ray data. (Image by WANG Pei and LI Di/NAOC)


FAST’s First Discovery of a Millisecond Pulsar---Chinese Academy of Sciences

 

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

 

[LKJ86]

CZ-7
2018.4.28

 

[JSCh]

Chinese scientists advancing world's largest radio telescope
CGTN
Published on Apr 29, 2018

Chinese scientists are installing a much advanced receiver system to the FAST system, the world's largest radio telescope, making it even more precise.

 

[JSCh]

China developing reusable space rocket
Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-30 16:37:16|Editor: Chengcheng


BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China aims to recover the first stage of the Long March-8 carrier rocket, which is still under development and is expected to make its maiden flight around 2021, according to a Chinese rocket expert.

It was part of China's endeavors to develop reusable space vehicles, Long Lehao, chief designer of carrier rockets at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told a space conference in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

The Long March-8 rocket will have two stages and two boosters: the first stage and boosters are expected to be retrieved through vertical landing, said Long, who is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

If successful, the new rocket would provide commercial launch services to customers around the globe, Long said.

"China's aerospace industry is making efforts to develop low-cost vehicles that can enter space rapidly to support future large-scale space exploration and promote a commercial space industry," Long said.

Bao Weimin, director of the Science and Technology Commission of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China's reusable carrier vehicle will use technologies different from those of U.S. commercial space firm SpaceX.

"As the current Long March 2, 3, 4 series rockets are fueled by toxic propellants, they cannot be recycled. But we are developing technologies to precisely control the fall of the rocket remains to ensure safety," Long said.

That effort is important as residents in possible landing areas have to be evacuated at every launch. As China's aerospace activities become more frequent, with 36 launches planned this year, precise control of falling rocket remains could save a lot of trouble.

Long also introduced the development roadmap for China's space transportation system.

Around 2025, reusable suborbital carriers will be successfully developed and suborbital space travel will be realized. Around 2030, rockets with two reusable stages will be developed. Around 2035, carrier rockets will be completely reusable which could realize the dream of space travel for ordinary people.

A future generation of carrier rockets will be put into use around 2040 and hybrid-power reusable carriers will be developed. Space vehicles will be more diverse, intelligent, reliable, low-cost, efficient and convenient.

"Those targets are not easy to achieve, and lots of technological difficulties must be solved," Long said.