China's Space Program Thread II
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
The bottleneck of low orbit communication satellite is radio frequency spectrum.
The bottleneck of AI satellite is heat dissipation.
The bottleneck of AI satellite is heat dissipation.
AFAIK Guowang is already operational for limited governmental use (iirc, "diplomatic uses") since about the end of 2025/early 2026; the number, altitude and spread of the wenchang-launched sats have probably enabled constant coverage at mid-latitude for some months at least.
Anyway, Another Qianfan batch today, Group 15 (skipped one in the numbering) of 20 satellites on CZ-8A at 21:43 BJT, 2 more sats than on previous batches
CALT lists a number of improvement on this CZ-8A launch (the first in 4 months) such as:
-2nd stage engine YF-75DA replaced by YF-75DB, which can restart 2 times instead of once.
-2nd stage orbital cruise time prolonged to multiple hours for more complicated maneuvers
-Launch profile optimization, structural weight reduction, pressurization, propellant feed and pneumatic systems improvement resulting in almost 1t of payload increase or alternatively enabling the delivery of the same payload to an orbit 200km higher
-Optimisation of the Launch vehicle assembly and testing, including the use of a new, second, vertical test station at HCS's assembly all enabling 30 launches a year.
-Further Control and telemetry systems improvements are expected on the next launch (Y10)
Btw, we now know CZ-8A launches are being sold at 245M RMB ($36.1M) according for the eXTP telescope (scheduled for 2030),
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Another day, another batch (20 satellites). So they're up to 238 now, 96 from the 324 figure (~ five launches); seems doable.
Yeah just saw that. Seems they are maintaining the momentum . If they carry on like this, then it’s possible they might meet their objectives this year and next year.
I’m more actually looking forward towards qianfan being launched on a private rocket like Landspace . Really looking forward to their coming reusable launch next month . If they are successful , it will be the start of something great for Chinas space industry .
Yeah seems CZ-10B will beat la space Zhuque-3 Y2 to launch by a few weeks and be the first Chinese reusable launch rocket if successful.CZ-10B is transporting to the Pad 2 of Wenchang commercial LC.
By the way what’s the reusable payload specs for CZ-10B compared to Zhuque-3E
When is the landing expected ?
This has not been disclosed. Frankly, CNSA likely only has a very tentative idea about the timing for sample collection. Much will depend on the careful analysis of observational data over the next few months; for example, they need to analyze how the irregular shape of the asteroid along with its very small size (< 50 metres) affect the gravitaional gradient field near 2016HO3 and only then begin to calculate safe "landing" trajectories, also, they need tio survey the astreoid's surface in detail in order to identify the best locations for both the "touch-and-grab" and "anchor-extraction" sample collection methods. I'd say don't expect the "landings" to be soon (although a quick touch-and-grab "landing" just to have a minimal returnable sample cannot be ruled out) . We do know that they plan to complete the process by late April 2027 (specifically they plan to start the spacecraft on its trip back to an encounter with Earth on April 24, 2027 or thereabouts); so the only non-speculative answer is: sometime duirng the next 9.5 months.