China's Space Program News Thread

[sangye]

8 and 8 Y2 are the same type rocket.

The 'Y' represent '遥' meaning 'remote sensing and control task'. So CZ-8 Y2 means the second CZ-8 launching task.

There is a new -8R variant with reusable stages under developing.


Both CZ-7 / 7A are successors of the CZ-2/3/4 series rocket, propelled by Kerosene / LOx fuel engines instead of the old N2O4 / UDMH fuel engines.

CZ-7 is LEO / SSO payload optimized 2.5 stages rocket with a optional YZ-1A upper stage.

CZ-7A is GTO payload optimized three-stage rocket with a cryogenic LH2/LOx third stage.

The CZ-8 and 8 Y2 I am referring to have a difference of two boosters rockets, check the pictures, they are not the same rocket

I am not interested in knowing the capabilities of the 8R because it hasn't been launched yet, but the current 8 series and the 7 series look similar in size, so I wanted to know how they compare on their performances

Do you have the data on the lifting capabilities for the 8 and 8 Y2? I was aware of the 7s ones

Thanks

 

[taxiya]

Can someone explain to me the lifting capabilities differences between the LM-7, 7A, 8 and 8 Y2? How do they compare to each other? And is any of the 8s fulfilling the same role as any of the 7s?

CZ-7 is probably only to do LEO work for the space station. CZ-7A is 3 stage GTO for payload above 5.5t. CZ-8 is mainly SSOs (700km 5t). CZ-8 is capable for 2.8t to GTO and LEO up to 8.1t. And CZ-7A won't do this low mass GTO job.

So there is no overlapping roles. From their development history it is actually impossible for them to overlap because CZ-8 is just another variant of CZ-7, aka CZ-722(HO).

There was a discussion of possible iteration after CZ-7A. It would be a CBC 2 staged rocket with less capability of CZ-7A. That rocket would look more like a CZ-8 derivative than a CZ-7 but from the same mission profile for CZ-7A. If that iteration materialize, it would be equally possible to name it a 8 or 7. For this reason, I think it is not relevant to pay attention to the number series and compare them.

 

[taxiya]

It was only last year China Daily reported the CZ-6A would fly in 2021

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Have they stopped development of the CZ-6A or did they just rename it?

CZ-6A is to be launched very very soon. It has been reported in this thread recently. Search a few page back, there are photos of it being assembled in Taiyuan launch site.

Here is a link I found

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The CZ-8 seems to pretty much have the same SSO payload capabilities as the CZ-6A

CZ-8 is slightly more capable. I think the purpose of CZ-6A are:

• 8th academy to keep their competence.
• China's exercise of solid boosters + liquid rocket.
• Cheaper alternative to CZ-8 in the same way as CZ-4 vs. CZ-3.

 

[iantsai]

The CZ-8 and 8 Y2 I am referring to have a difference of two boosters rockets, check the pictures, they are not the same rocket

I am not interested in knowing the capabilities of the 8R because it hasn't been launched yet, but the current 8 series and the 7 series look similar in size, so I wanted to know how they compare on their performances

Do you have the data on the lifting capabilities for the 8 and 8 Y2? I was aware of the 7s ones

Thanks

Yes the CZ-8 could have 2 optional SRBs and they all called CZ-8. Y1 was with two boosters and Y2 was without.

Maybe there were subtype names like CZ-822 and CZ-820 for Y1 and Y2 but I didn't find.

Y1 was launched in Dec. 22, 2020 and was reported in page 633 of this thread.

I think CZ-8 is smaller than CZ-7 with less payload. And CZ-8 is more SSO payload oriented, while CZ-7 is more general purposed with different configurations.

 

[nixdorf]

Continued...

What is the purpose of the surrounding towers?

 

[by78]

What is the purpose of the surrounding towers?

They are basically lightning rods and serve to direct lightning strikes away from the rocket.

 

[hkbc]

CZ-6A is to be launched very very soon. It has been reported in this thread recently. Search a few page back, there are photos of it being assembled in Taiyuan launch site.

Here is a link I found

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CZ-8 is slightly more capable. I think the purpose of CZ-6A are:

• 8th academy to keep their competence.
• China's exercise of solid boosters + liquid rocket.
• Cheaper alternative to CZ-8 in the same way as CZ-4 vs. CZ-3.

Thanks, Interesting its launching from Taiyuan, guess they are updating all their launch facilities to handle Kerolox.

Still not sure the CZ-3 vs CZ-4 comparison is a good one if both the CZ-8 and 6A target SSO launches there's only a 500kg payload difference, the 8 for now is simply the 7's first stage mated to one of its 3rd stages whereas the 6A seems to be nothing like the 6 so can't see the economies of scale cost wise! Perhaps if they plan to use it at the inland launch facilities the 6A is much easier to transport.

 

[taxiya]

Thanks, Interesting its launching from Taiyuan, guess they are updating all their launch facilities to handle Kerolox.

Still not sure the CZ-3 vs CZ-4 comparison is a good one if both the CZ-8 and 6A target SSO launches there's only a 500kg payload difference, the 8 for now is simply the 7's first stage mated to one of its 3rd stages whereas the 6A seems to be nothing like the 6 so can't see the economies of scale cost wise! Perhaps if they plan to use it at the inland launch facilities the 6A is much easier to transport.

I agree that CZ-3 vs 4 comparison may not be proper.

 

[anzha]

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[SanWenYu]

One of the 22 satellites launched by CZ-8 on Feb 27 is built and owned by students of Wuhan University.

This nano satellite, named as "the morning star", weighs 19.2 kg, cost about 5 million yuan. The launch expense is about 3 million yuan. (It's unknown if the students got a discount for the launch. -- notes by me)

The satellite is the first of China that "can be programmed in orbit and can take hyperspectral images, night vision images and infrared images".

At 11:28 on Feb 27, this satellite was dispensed successfully by the launching vehicle. At 14:11, the control station in campus of Wuhan University received the first signal from the satellite. Everything onboard works as expected.

卫星的研制经费花了500万元，发射花了300万元，总共花了近800万元。

“启明星”是一颗微纳卫星，仅有19.2千克，是我国首颗可见光高光谱和夜光多光谱多模式在轨可编程卫星。它可以获取高光谱、夜光和红外三种遥感图像，三种遥感数据在国民经济发展中都可以发挥相应的作用。

2月27日11点28分，武大“启明星”卫星成功与火箭分离。14点11分，武大收到卫星测控信号，卫星工作一切正常。

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