China says it will launch reusable spacecraft as soon as 2027

[Nan Yang]

China says it will launch reusable spacecraft as soon as 2027

• It will have capacity for seven astronauts, according to deputy chief engineering designer of manned space programme
• The spacecraft will ‘play a critical role in future construction of China’s space station and moon landing mission’, he says

Zhang Tong in Beijing
Published: 6:00am, 19 Jul, 2023

Yang Liwei said the new spacecraft would have a “critical role” in the space station and crewed moon landing mission. Photo: Weibo

China’s first reusable spacecraft will be launched as soon as 2027, according to the deputy chief engineering designer of the country’s manned space programme.

Yang Liwei, who was the first Chinese sent into space, also told Guangzhou Daily on Monday that the new spacecraft would be able to transport seven astronauts.

“It will also play a critical role in future construction of China’s space station and moon landing mission,” Yang was quoted as saying.

According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, the spacecraft will be reusable for both near-Earth orbit and deep-space exploration missions.

A full-size prototype successfully completed a 67-hour test flight, carried by a Long March 5 rocket, in 2020.

It uses new materials and structures that take its heat resistance to three to four times that of China’s Shenzhou spacecrafts.

The materials can withstand temperatures as high as 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit during re-entry, while the weight of the heat-resistant structure has been reduced by more than 30 per cent.

The spacecraft has also been designed to be reused – the return capsule will be ready for the next mission once it is examined and its “coating” replaced. That means – theoretically at least – key parts of the spacecraft can be reused up to 10 times, significantly reducing launch costs.

Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s manned space programme, told state broadcaster CCTV last month that the latest design retained a “blunt bullet-head shape” but the internal space is larger than previous versions.

“The design has been streamlined from three compartments to two, making it safer and more economical,” he said.

With capacity to carry seven astronauts, it will be comparable to the new generation of American manned spacecraft – SpaceX’s Dragon V2 and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. Nasa’s Orion MPCV carries six.

At 8.8 metres and weighing 21.6 tonnes it is also twice the size of the Dragon V2, which weighs about 9.5 tonnes.

The new spacecraft will be used for China’s crewed moon landing programme, working with a separate landing spaceship, specialised lunar spacesuits, manned rovers and other equipment to achieve this goal by 2030.

It has not yet been named. The China Manned Space Engineering Office said on its official WeChat page on Friday that a competition would soon be launched to name the new-generation spacecraft as well as the new lunar landing spaceship.

The office on Monday also put out a call to universities, research institutions and tech companies to submit scientific payloads to be taken to the moon with the lander by 2030.

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Zhang Tong

Tong earned his Bachelor's degree from Tianjin University and Master's degree from the University of Washington. His major was Chemical Engineering and Data Science. He used to work as an editor of academic journals. He is enthusiastic about news writing and finding stories behind scientific research.

 

[Nan Yang]

Timeline unveiled for China's advanced manned spacecraft's inaugural flight

Compared with the Shenzhou series, the nation's current crewed spacecraft, the new model will be capable of conducting longer missions, housing more astronauts and cargo and operating in a tougher environment. File image of a future crewed spacecraft after an orbital reentry test.

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Timeline unveiled for China's advanced manned spacecraft's inaugural flight
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 19, 2023

China's advanced manned spacecraft is set to embark on its maiden voyage sometime around 2027 and 2028, as revealed by a prominent figure in the nation's manned space program. This innovative development in space technology is currently undergoing research and development, anticipating a capacity to accommodate up to seven astronauts on a single journey, as reported in the Science and Technology Daily.

Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut to journey into space and a deputy chief planner for the nation's manned spaceflights, unveiled these plans during a science teachers' forum held in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong province. His speech was later summarized in a Tuesday report by the Science and Technology Daily.

According to Yang, this next-generation spacecraft will play a crucial role in China's future human moon missions and explorations into deeper realms of space. The innovative vessel is not just an advancement in capacity; it is a leap in design and technology, reflecting China's commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

The new spacecraft is being developed at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), where experts have assured that the design and technologies of the spacecraft are intended to meet international standards. The spacecraft will essentially comprise two main parts, the first being a re-entry module designed to house the astronauts and function as a control center during the space journey. The second part will be a service module that will integrate power and propulsion systems essential for successful space travel.

Specifications for the new vessel reveal an almost 9-meter length, a diameter of about 4.5 meters, and a weight tipping the scales at 22 metric tons. The China Academy of Space Technology views these dimensions and its resultant capacity as a milestone achievement for China's space program.

Compared to the currently deployed Shenzhou series, which holds the record as the nation's present crewed spacecraft, the forthcoming model holds significant improvements. It is envisaged that the new spacecraft will support longer missions, providing increased capacity for astronauts and cargo, and will be able to withstand more challenging space environments.

The announcement of this advanced spacecraft comes amid a period of significant momentum in China's space program. The nation is steadily growing its presence in the international space exploration community, evidenced by numerous successful lunar explorations, the launch of its first independent space station, and ambitious plans for future Mars missions.

China's latest crewed spacecraft sets a precedent for the nation's next wave of space exploration, harnessing advanced designs and technologies to push the boundaries of human presence in space. With the announced timeline, space enthusiasts and experts worldwide will be keenly watching the development of this next-gen spacecraft, marking another significant milestone in the era of international space exploration.