China's Space Program News Thread

[sunnymaxi]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1563857678178439169

 

[xlitter]

An old newspaper reveals China's ability to make plans happen! This is a story from 2020 and can be deleted if it is inappropriate.

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[taxiya]

What was launched on August 26th. Significance is that this is the 2nd launch of the same vehicle.
Suborbital launch vehicle (1st stage). Max altitude 120km, max speed Ma8. 50 times reuse. Carry expendable 2nd stage on the back. LOX-Methane engine.

The LOX-Methane engine on the right. It is the 60t engine from 2016.

 

[escobar]

What was launched on August 26th. Significance is that this is the 2nd launch of the same vehicle.
Suborbital launch vehicle (1st stage). Max altitude 120km, max speed Ma8. 50 times reuse. Carry expendable 2nd stage on the back. LOX-Methane engine.
View attachment 96320
The LOX-Methane engine on the right. It is the 60t engine from 2016.
View attachment 96321

AT-1B for the suborbital space plane. Maybe AT(Aerospace Transport?)-1A for the orbital space plane...

 

[taxiya]

AT-1B for the suborbital space plane.
AT(Aerospace Transport?)-1A for the orbital space plane?

I have never seen such designation AT-1X therefor know nothing about them or the relationship of the two variants you talk about.

BTW, I have never seen China using English abbreviation for their program except export oriented product.

 

[escobar]

I have never seen such designation AT-1X therefor know nothing about them or the relationship of the two variants you talk about.

 

[taxiya]

View attachment 96324

Thanks. I couldn't find this page of the slide.

AT-1B for the suborbital space plane.
Yes, it is AT-1B launched in 2021.7.16 and 2022.8.26.

 

[escobar]

Thanks. I couldn't find this page of the slide. Yes, it is AT-1B launched in 2021.7.16 and 2022.8.26.

AT-1B may be the civilian version of the experimental military vehicle launched in 2018

China launched a scaled-down model of a multipurpose, reusable space plane from a test site in the Gobi Desert late last month, part of its race to develop space travel technology. The hypersonic space drone lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Inner Mongolia, accelerated to more than five times the speed of sound and reached orbital altitude before returning safely to ground, according to a researcher with knowledge of the experiment.

China's goal was to develop a space plane for both military and civilian missions, capable of travelling fast enough to penetrate missile defence systems and with the heft to help rebuild satellite networks or lift tourists to space, the researcher said. Development of the prototype was led by the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre in Mianyang, Sichuan province. Also known as Base 29, the military-run facility has some of the most advanced wind tunnels for hypersonic research in the country. Ye Youda, a senior hypersonic vehicle researcher working at the base, confirmed the test took place but said he could not give details because the project was classified for defence purposes.

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[taxiya]

AT-1B may be the civilian version of the experimental military vehicle launched in 2018

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AT-1B is the first stage of a TSTO system in its first phase. It will be replaced by the combined-cycle engine powered 1st stage in phase III.

The 2018 launch in SCMP report reached orbital altitude (200km and beyond). I don't know if I can trust what SCMP said. But I know that for the TSTO system, the 1st stage will not reach orbital altitude (max 120km) and velocity. AT-1B is just a winged 1st stage booster. From my limited knowledge, the different flying characteristics of the two tests indicates that they are not related.

However, if the SCMP article did not say orbital altitude I would be willing to acknowledge the likelihood the relationship though.

 

[escobar]

The updated version of CZ-2D would switch old 4 hypergolic engines to 5 open cycle kerosene engine (YF-102, 85t sl thrust).
YF-102 basic version has sea level thrust of 835kN, with sea level impulse of 275.5s, and thrust to weight ratio >130. Five of this can be fitted into 3.35m diameter first stage. There will be a vacuum version ready by 2023, and a reusable version in 2026

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