Over 40 launches by various new rockets, China reveals space plan for 2020

[beijingwalker]

China reveals space plan for 2020
Xinhua, January 18, 2020

China will smash its record for space launches in 2020.

The country is going to send more than 60 spacecraft into orbit via over 40 launches this year, according to a plan released Friday in Beijing.

"This year will continue to see intensive launches," said Shang Zhi, director of the Space Department of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), at a press conference, where a blue book setting out China's space achievements and future missions was released.

According to Shang, there are three major missions, mainly focusing on the completion of the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System, the lunar exploration and the network of Gaofen observation satellites.

Two geostationary orbit BeiDou satellites will be sent into space in the first half of 2020. The Chang'e-5 lunar probe, which is expected to bring moon samples back to Earth, and China's first Mars probe are also planned to be launched this year.

In addition, three new types of carrier rockets, which are the Long March-5B, Long March-7A and Long March-8, will make their maiden flights in 2020.

As a new generation of carrier rocket, the Long March-5B has the largest carrying capacity to low-Earth orbit. It will carry the core capsule and experiment capsules of China's space station.

The Long March 7A represents the new generation of China’s medium-sized high-orbit rocket. The Long March-8 rocket will increase China’s lift capacity for launches to sun-synchronous orbits and meet the growing needs of commercial launches.

The Long March-5 rockets will be launched three times in 2020, carrying a new generation of manned spacecraft, a Mars probe and a Chang'e-5 probe into space.

The CASC will also send a number of satellites for China's civil space infrastructure system and plan a series of commercial launches this year, according to the blue book.

China completed 34 space launches in 2019, ranking first in the world.

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2020-01/18/content_75626065.htm

Tally of the orbital launches in 2019

• China: 34
• Russia: 22
• United States: 21
• Europe: 9
• India: 6
• New Zealand: 6
• Japan: 2
• Iran: 2

 

[beijingwalker]

Just 2 weeks into the 2020, I've already lost count of how many launches have been made, China is well on her way to become a leading space power.

 

[Beast]

As a new generation of carrier rocket, the Long March-5B has the largest carrying capacity to low-Earth orbit. It will carry the core capsule and experiment capsules of China's space station.

When is China going to launch the first core of the space station? Isnt is happen in 2020?

 

[Dante80]

When is China going to launch the first core of the space station? Isnt is happen in 2020?

From what we know so far, the Tianhe CCM is scheduled to be the second flight for the CZ-5B LV. Current NET is supposed to be Q2 2021. The first CZ-5B mission is scheduled NET Oct 2020, and will carry a test article (partially boilerplate) of the new crewed spacecraft that is in active development to replace the Shenzhou.

 

[Beast]

From what we know so far, the Tianhe CCM is scheduled to be the second flight for the CZ-5B LV. Current NET is supposed to be Q2 2021. The first CZ-5B mission is scheduled NET Oct 2020, and will carry a test article (partially boilerplate) of the new crewed spacecraft that is in active development to replace the Shenzhou.

Quite disappointed the first space station module is not able to launched in 2020. I would place it priority over Chang e 5 and new spacecraft.

 

[Dante80]

Quite disappointed the first space station module is not able to launched in 2020. I would place it priority over Chang e 5 and new spacecraft.

It really *has* to be the second flight of the LM-5 LEO variant. You cannot risk putting something as valuable as the CCM on the maiden launch of a new rocket. The new spacecraft boilerplate is actually an ideal payload for the first launch.

At the same time, if the first launch is scheduled for October as we said (due to both LV and payload availability), you really don't want to launch again soon either. When fielding a new LV, you utilize the expansive telemetry you get from the maiden launch to both inform and update your engineering and support models. While the feedback loop doesn't need to incorporate structural or procedural changes immediately, you cannot really skip this step without incurring an unacceptable amount of risk going forward.

Space is hard, and patience is a virtue. If you are interested in the subject at hand, google what "launch fever" means to really understand the concept. Wayne Hale has an excellent set of blog posts on this.