China's Space Program Thread II

[escobar]

Seems like the target for Shijian-25 orbital servicing mission is

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, the satellite launched in 2021 that caused quite a commotion. This will probably be in the 2025 CMPR.

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is at 149 deg east, 35,468 x 36,111 km, 10.21 deg inclination

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is at 120 deg east, 35,546 x 36,088 km, 10.21 deg inclination, drifting east at about quarter of degree per day, orbit is coplanar
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Monitoring SJ-25: Potential Rendezvous and Refueling for SJ-21

Recently, our COMSPOC Operations team has been closely tracking the newly launched Chinese SJ-25 spacecraft, which entered geosynchronous orbit near 119° E. Notably, it shares a nearly identical inclined orbital plane (~10.3°) with SJ-21, currently located about 30° away in longitude. This orbital coincidence goes beyond inclination alone—the Right Ascension of the Ascending Node (RAAN) is also matched, a strong indication that SJ-21 may be SJ-25’s primary target.

The Geosynchronous belt is often likened to a high-stakes chessboard. In this case, the pieces have been set and we are waiting for the game to start. SHIJIAN-25 (SJ-25) has drawn attention due to its potential rendezvous with SHIJIAN-21 (SJ-21), the question remains: will SJ-25 commit to a long-distance drift, or simply continue station-keeping where it is?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1896679303288352910

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1879992969727537510

 

[escobar]

The Geosynchronous Chessboard: Shiyan-12 02’s Heading Toward USA 271

Things just got more interesting - COMSPOC's optical sensor network data shows Shiyan-12 02 (SY-12 02) maintaining a rapid eastward drift, converging on USA 271— While these maneuvers don’t directly intersect with the ongoing SJ-25 and USA 270 storyline near ~120° E, they could subtly shift the overall strategic balance.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1897278728658464870

 

[peekaboo]

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[tphuang]

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This is interesting.

China plans to return samples from Mars by around 2030. I think they already had put robots on Mars in Tianwen-1. Sample return will be more challenging

 

[tphuang]

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Deep Blue Aerospace raise another 500m RMB in funding. tbh, this doesn't sound like a lot for a company working on rockets.

 

[by78]

Lijian-2's transporter erector launcher (TEL) has been photographed.

Using a Lijian-2 static mockup to test the transporter erector launcher (TEL).

 

[by78]

The latest image of the Hainan Commercial Spaceport, with her now operational launchpad no. 1 and no. 2.

A Long March 8 carrying a batch of Qianfan/G60 satellites is scheduled for launch on March 12. This will be the first flight from the launchpad no. 1 of Hainan Commercial Spaceport.

 

[by78]

In a sign that private launch providers are quickly coalescing their infrastructure around Wenchang, i-Space/Interstellar Glory also announced that it plans to build a rocket assembly and testing facility in Wenchang, which will have the capacity to inspect and recycle 40 recovered reusable rockets annually.

An update on i-Space/Interstellar Glory's rocket assembly plant in Hainan. The facility is expected to achieve initial operational status in April.

 

[GulfLander]

"China is set to witness the debut and maiden flights of several reusable rockets in 2025, including commercial rockets Zhuque-3 and Tianlong-3. The country’s next-generation manned carrier rockets under development will also include a reusable model, according to rocket designer and CPPCC member Rong Yi."

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1897905055023747267

 

[by78]

I just stumbled on yet another propellant tank supplier today:

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.

Like Jianyuan and LightYear, R.Space also focuses on supplying propellant tanks to launch providers. It has just completed the first phase of its production plant located next to the Oriental Spaceport in Yantai, Shandong. The plant now has the capacity for making more than 30 propellant tanks per year. The company is currently focusing on improving production efficiency of stainless steel tanks as well as on R&D of composite tanks.

R.Space (a.k.a. Jiutian) has begun construction on a new production base for propellant tanks. Located in the great city of Yantai, once completed, the base will have an annual production capacity of more than 300 propellant tanks and 100 payload fairings.