China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

Yet another launch vehicle startup. The name is Beijing ZenkSpace (北京空间致航科技有限公司). Not much is known about the company except the name first appeared in 2019.

Below are images from a presentation given by the company:
– Its first rocket (liquid fuel) will make its maiden flight in 2025.
– A medium and a large launch vehicle are being developed in parallel, covering payload capacities of one to 12 tons (to LEO?).
– The company aims for launch cost of ¥25,000 to ¥30,000 per kilogram.
– The company has a novel reusable rocket design. If I'm reading this correctly, the 1st-stage engines are recovered separately. That is, the entire engine assembly (without the fuel tank) detaches from the rocket, re-enters the atmosphere, and makes a parachute landing.

ZenkSpace (a.k.a. Zhihang Technology) will launch its Zhihang-1 (ZH-1) rocket before the Chinese New Year. Zhihang-1 is a three-stage, 3.35m-diameter rocket burning LOX/Kerosene, with a length of 49m, a take-off thrust of 320 tons, and capacity to SSO of 4 tons. No other information is known as this point regarding reusability or the engines used. The company is also developing the Zhihang-2 launch vehicle (concurrently with Zhihang-1), which is basically a lengthened Zhihang-1 with strap-on boosters and has a capacity to SSO of 12 tons. A third rocket is also under development, which will have a diameter of 5m and a capacity to SSO of 18 tons, and the assembly of a prototype is expected in 2026.

 

[by78]

Satellite and ground imagery of the various launch sites under construction. Except one, all satellite photos were taken in April of this year.

Galactic Energy's dedicated Pallas-1 launchpad:

CAS Space/Zhongke's dedicated launchpad for Lijian-2:

High-resolution images of CAS Space/Zhongke's dedicated launch facility for the Lijian-2 rocket.

 

[by78]

China has opened the application process for obtaining Chang'e-5 and -6 samples for research purposes. Both domestic and international institutions may now apply. The application window will close on November 30th.

 

[TheRathalos]

Interesting tidbit from a

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, the french radon-measuring experiment on Chang'e 6: The CNES was recently notified by the French Embassy in Beijing that the CNSA & CMSA aim for crewed lunar landing readiness in 2028.

Of course, this is the official, political line, and the technical readiness doesn't care about what's said officially, but it is a good indicator to what China is privately telling its international partners, and generally the CNSA doesn't communicate official informations to international partners without being confident in the information...

 

[ZachL111]

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Medical exams were conducted for the crew (as of yet we don't know who, as prior mentioned, we will learn 24 hours before launch), the service tower and other equipment was checked as well.

This is a standard part of the launch and recovery practice.

 

[ZachL111]

Also, first stage of the Pallas 1 launch vehicle has been installed at Haiyang for a test fire in November. On board the HOS-1 floating test bench.

 

[by78]

Talking about Yilong Aerospace, which are IMO one of the most intriguing of the "minor" aspiring chinese LSP - especially since they received a staggering 5 billion Yuan investment plan from municipal/provincial source in Chizhou, Anhui in April 2024 (

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) - (they also raised 100M yuan last month

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) , they do sometime give signs of life, and today they announced an agreement with Shanghai Tuopu CNC Technology Co., Ltd. (Tuopu) for the construction of a 5m diameter propellant tanks production line. For reference Tuopu also has a similar agreement with iSpace (Interstellar Glory) and they jointly make the 4.2m tanks for the Hyperbola-3 (

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from Jan 2024)

Photos from the contract ceremony between Yilong and Tuopu/TopNC for a production line for 5m-diameter propellant tanks.

 

[by78]

ZenkSpace (a.k.a. Zhihang Technology) will launch its Zhihang-1 (ZH-1) rocket before the Chinese New Year. Zhihang-1 is a three-stage, 3.35m-diameter rocket burning LOX/Kerosene, with a length of 49m, a take-off thrust of 320 tons, and capacity to SSO of 4 tons. No other information is known as this point regarding reusability or the engines used. The company is also developing the Zhihang-2 launch vehicle (concurrently with Zhihang-1), which is basically a lengthened Zhihang-1 with strap-on boosters and has a capacity to SSO of 12 tons. A third rocket is also under development, which will have a diameter of 5m and a capacity to SSO of 18 tons, and the assembly of a prototype is expected in 2026.

More images and a video on the Zhihang-1 (ZH-1) launch vehicle currently under assembly by ZenkSpace.

 

[Michael90]

Interesting tidbit from a

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, the french radon-measuring experiment on Chang'e 6: The CNES was recently notified by the French Embassy in Beijing that the CNSA & CMSA aim for crewed lunar landing readiness in 2028.

Of course, this is the official, political line, and the technical readiness doesn't care about what's said officially, but it is a good indicator to what China is privately telling its international partners, and generally the CNSA doesn't communicate official informations to international partners without being confident in the information...

I don't think it's possible for them to launch man to the moon in 2 years. I don't even think the launch vehicle will be fully operational then. I believe anything by(or after) 2030 is more viable. Manned moon mission is one of the most complex missions mankind has ever undertaken..So there is no rush for this, safety and patience are of outpost importance. Even a 2032 launch will be a groundbreaking unprecedented achievement by China.

 

[Michael90]

Also, first stage of the Pallas 1 launch vehicle has been installed at Haiyang for a test fire in November. On board the HOS-1 floating test bench.

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I think beginning of next year is likely for this rocket first launch ? Not sure if they can make it by December ?