China starts the development of kilometer-class super large spacecraft

[GS Zhou]

National Nature Science Foundation of China recently releases the R&D project it wants to initiate during the 14th FYP (five year plan). Among which, a project called "Space assembly dynamics and control of super large aerospace structures" raises an ambitious target for the development of "kilometer-class super large spacecraft".

According to the project guide, the ultra-large spacecraft with the size of the kilometer level is a major strategic aerospace equipment for the future use of space resources. The structural weight and size of the super large spacecraft are huge, which cannot be constructed by a single rocket launch. It needs to be constructed via modular design, multiple launches and space assembly.

Four development targets are thereof raised by the project guide:
1. Lightweight and controllable design of super large aerospace structures.
2. The dynamic evolution of the space assembly process of super large aerospace structures.
3. Orbit-attitude-structure integrated stability control during space assembly.
4. Ground simulation experiment of dynamics and control of space assembly process.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

Only 1 sentence describes this: 我们已经不屑于地球上的琐事，新的目标是征服星辰大海

 

[52051]

I-Ching has already predicted that China is the country that lead human race to the next level of civilization.

And current world events match I-Ching's prediction perfectly well.

I just wish I could have had born later to witness the age of inter-planet or even inter-system space travelling.

 

[Mandalorian_CA]

 

[Valkyrie]

Brilliant. May this project be a resounding success further adding to the design, manufacturing, and project execution expertise of the Chinese nation!

 

[kuge]

National Nature Science Foundation of China recently releases the R&D project it wants to initiate during the 14th FYP (five year plan). Among which, a project called "Space assembly dynamics and control of super large aerospace structures" raises an ambitious target for the development of "kilometer-class super large spacecraft".

According to the project guide, the ultra-large spacecraft with the size of the kilometer level is a major strategic aerospace equipment for the future use of space resources. The structural weight and size of the super large spacecraft are huge, which cannot be constructed by a single rocket launch. It needs to be constructed via modular design, multiple launches and space assembly.

Four development targets are thereof raised by the project guide:
1. Lightweight and controllable design of super large aerospace structures.
2. The dynamic evolution of the space assembly process of super large aerospace structures.
3. Orbit-attitude-structure integrated stability control during space assembly.
4. Ground simulation experiment of dynamics and control of space assembly process.

is non-chemical anti gravity propulsion on the table?

 

[powastick]

I hope it uses ultra large ion thrusters rather than conventional rockets.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Only 1 sentence describes this: 我们已经不屑于地球上的琐事，新的目标是征服星辰大海

It's about time you guys are finally thinking like that.

 

[serenity]

lol what?! 1km in longest measure is still impossible until at least 2100.

Come on.

Even if we lift 10T into orbit to assemble something huge in orbit, it will require tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of launches and how to avoid space debris clouds?

Unless we have some amazing new technologies like the Americans keep talking about some anti-gravity stuff, this is pure science fiction. The whole world together cannot accomplish this. If we try, we will spend every last resource we have on space launches.

This is part of 5 year plan to bring some science background of sometime working on such a project many decades or hundreds of years into the future. It is a thought experiment exercise almost but more officially logged.

I cannot think of a single way a whole Earth combined could build a 1km long spacecraft. We need to assemble on earth and how to deliver it into space? 1km long is longer than Burj Al Khalifa. So of course it is to be assembled in space. This five year plan is just to realize some of the main technologies to help with space based assemblies. For next 100 years humans will only be able to assemble small light weight payloads in space.

 

[powastick]

lol what?! 1km in longest measure is still impossible until at least 2100.

Come on.

Even if we lift 10T into orbit to assemble something huge in orbit, it will require tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of launches and how to avoid space debris clouds?

Unless we have some amazing new technologies like the Americans keep talking about some anti-gravity stuff, this is pure science fiction. The whole world together cannot accomplish this. If we try, we will spend every last resource we have on space launches.

This is part of 5 year plan to bring some science background of sometime working on such a project many decades or hundreds of years into the future. It is a thought experiment exercise almost but more officially logged.

I cannot think of a single way a whole Earth combined could build a 1km long spacecraft. We need to assemble on earth and how to deliver it into space? 1km long is longer than Burj Al Khalifa. So of course it is to be assembled in space. This five year plan is just to realize some of the main technologies to help with space based assemblies. For next 100 years humans will only be able to assemble small light weight payloads in space.

There is non rocket launches.

Non-rocket spacelaunch - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I think China could leverage high altitude launches from the Tibetan plateau using mass drivers. Space debris isn't really problem, otherwise there will be no space station. 1 kilometer maybe too far fetch for the initial project, but i think China should focus on fabrication in space.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I cannot think of a single way a whole Earth combined could build a 1km long spacecraft.

I can. We already have the tech.
Expandable modules connected together

A smaller expandable module has been connected to the ISS since 2016. That's 5 years..

 

[serenity]

I can. We already have the tech.
Expandable modules connected together

View attachment 772676

View attachment 772677

A smaller expandable module has been connected to the ISS since 2016. That's 5 years..

I guess I imagined science fiction like spacecraft and not just some balloons with instruments included or added after. Okay yes this stuff achieving 1km long orbit object is possible for some space habitat for experiments or whatever.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I guess I imagined science fiction like spacecraft and not just some balloons with instruments included or added after. Okay yes this stuff achieving 1km long orbit object is possible for some space habitat for experiments or whatever.

Even with something as big as a SpaceX Cargo Starship you'll still be forced to make basically a crude lego brick style craft using thousands of small generic almost snap together parts.

What would be a better strategy is to 3D print/pour much of the craft in orbit somehow. You load up multiple ships with different 'liquid polymers" that when mixed together harden. You can use snap together lego brick things as forms just like the concrete forms they use when pouring concrete foundation walls for new buildings. You then pour your spacecraft walls/floors.

Fill this with liquid plastic/metal/whatever

Use hundreds of generic lego blocks connected together as forms

Don't forget the curved ones!

Inject liquid into forms to make spaceship.

 

[F-22Raptor]

I-Ching has already predicted that China is the country that lead human race to the next level of civilization.

And current world events match I-Ching's prediction perfectly well.

I just wish I could have had born later to witness the age of inter-planet or even inter-system space travelling.

Given China’s space funding and glacial pace of development this project is dead in the water. Not to mention absurdly difficult from a tech and manufacturing perspective and financially untenable.


And while China has powerpoints and white papers the US has this:

 

[DocEinstein]

National Nature Science Foundation of China recently releases the R&D project it wants to initiate during the 14th FYP (five year plan). Among which, a project called "Space assembly dynamics and control of super large aerospace structures" raises an ambitious target for the development of "kilometer-class super large spacecraft".

According to the project guide, the ultra-large spacecraft with the size of the kilometer level is a major strategic aerospace equipment for the future use of space resources. The structural weight and size of the super large spacecraft are huge, which cannot be constructed by a single rocket launch. It needs to be constructed via modular design, multiple launches and space assembly.

Four development targets are thereof raised by the project guide:
1. Lightweight and controllable design of super large aerospace structures.
2. The dynamic evolution of the space assembly process of super large aerospace structures.
3. Orbit-attitude-structure integrated stability control during space assembly.
4. Ground simulation experiment of dynamics and control of space assembly process.

Ahhh Star trek is finally beginning to take shape.
Humans on Earth going to be a space faring race soon !