Presumably it was a LM-2, I think it was somewhere in the original FT article?
China Ballistic Missiles and Nuclear Arms Thread
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Presumably it was a LM-2, I think it was somewhere in the original FT article?
I missed this. And for the benefit of those who missed this:
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which oversees launches, on July 19 said on an official social media account that it had launched a Long March 2C rocket, which it added was the 77th launch of that rocket. On August 24 it announced that it had conducted a 79th flight. But there was no announcement of a 78th launch, which sparked speculation among observers of its space programme about a secret launch. CAAA did not respond to requests for comment.
A plane that flys in space doesn’t go into orbit, it goes from point to point. It would be designed to transport people and cargo quickly.
China also said this is a test of a component, not a system.
I was talking about the subject that was quoted from the article. In any case, I don't think US would release officially any more details that they have learned of the test. Neither will China.
Many firms in the world have conducted similar experiments and the separating part of the spacecraft was its accessory part, and it would burn and break up in the atmosphere and the debris would fall into international waters, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.
LM launch is not overkill if they were testing stage separation at high velocities.
You would need to carry two upper stages mated together.
But I agree that a TSTO HTHL vehicle would likely separate stages at like Mach 5-10 tops. It would not separate vehicles at Mach 20.
TSTO HTHL vehicle proposals typically rely on air breathing propulsion for first stage and air friction makes travel at higher velocities a PITA.
The only other possibility would be this is a test for a stage and a half vehicle rather than a two stage vehicle. The second stage would then be an orbital insertion vehicle, maybe just a small kickoff stage, and the first stage would have some sort of combined rocket and jet propulsion scheme so it could hit Mach 20. But it seems hard to hit Mach 20 in a single stage given current rocket engine technology and materials.
You would need to carry two upper stages mated together.
But I agree that a TSTO HTHL vehicle would likely separate stages at like Mach 5-10 tops. It would not separate vehicles at Mach 20.
TSTO HTHL vehicle proposals typically rely on air breathing propulsion for first stage and air friction makes travel at higher velocities a PITA.
The only other possibility would be this is a test for a stage and a half vehicle rather than a two stage vehicle. The second stage would then be an orbital insertion vehicle, maybe just a small kickoff stage, and the first stage would have some sort of combined rocket and jet propulsion scheme so it could hit Mach 20. But it seems hard to hit Mach 20 in a single stage given current rocket engine technology and materials.
The CASIC just confirmed they have already tested the RBCC engine in real flight. 
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