China's Space Program News Thread
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Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
This is great news China keep improving the sensor to detect ship at sea anytime anywhere in western pacific
Long March 4C launches Yaogan Weixing-16 spy satellite for China
November 25th, 2012 by Rui C. Barbosa
Following the postponement of the Zhongxing-12 (ChinaSat) communications satellite launch, the Chinese kept up their impressive launch pace with the lofting of the Yaogan Weixing-16 satellite by a Long March (Chang Zheng) 4C rocket on Sunday. The launch took place at 4:06am UTC from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Chinese Launch:
Chinese media refer to the new satellite as a new remote sensing bird that will be used for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring. As was the case with previous launches of the Yaogan Weixing series, western analysts believe this class of satellites is being used for military purposes.
In particular this mission is similar to the Yaogan Weixing-9, with three satellites flying in formation in a type of NOSS system. Being similar to the YG-9 mission, the triplet comprises an electro-optical surveillance satellite, an synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, and possibly a electronic/signal intelligence satellite.
Designed for location and tracking of foreign warships, the satellites will collect optical and radio electronic signatures of the maritime vessels that will be used in conjunction with other information valuable for the Chinese maritime forces.
This was the 172nd successful Chinese orbital launch, the 172nd launch of a Chang Zheng launch vehicle, the 55th successful orbital launch from Jiuquan and the fourth from Taiyuan this year. It was also the 17th successful orbital Chinese launch in 2012.
Looking back to the Yaogan Weixing launch series:
The first Yaogan Weixing satellite (29092 2006-015A) was launched by a Chang Zheng-4C (Y1) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on April 27, 2006. Developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), the details about this satellite were closely guarded, but later it was said that this was the first Jianbing-5 satellite, equipped with the first space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
The second satellite on the series, the Yaogan Weixing-2 (31490 2007-019A), was launched on 25 May, 2007, by a Chang Zheng-2D (Y8) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Details were also restricted, though it is claimed that this spacecraft is an electro-optical military observation satellite also known as JB-6 Jianbing-6, complementing the results of the Yaogan Weixing-1.
Another SAR mission similar to Yaogan-1 was launched on November 11, 2007 - with the Yaogan Weixing-3 (32289 2007-055A) satellite orbited by a Chang Zheng-4C (Y3) launch vehicle from Taiyuan.
Yaogan Weixing-4 (33446 2008-061A) was then launched on December 1, 2008. This was the second electro-optical satellite on the series and was launched by a Chang Zheng-2D (Y9) from Jiuquan.
Other satellite in the Jianbing-6 series were Yaogan Wexing-7 (36110 2009-069A), launched on December 9, 2009 from Jiuquan by a Chang Zheng-2D (Y10), and Yaogan Weixing-11 (37165 2010-047A) launched on September 22, 2010, by the Chang Zheng-2D (Y11) launch vehicle from Jiuquan.
The first second-generation electro-optical reconnaissance satellite developed by CAST, Yaogan Weixing-5 (33456 2008-064A), was launched on December 15, 2008. The launch took place from Taiyuan by the Chang Zheng-4B (Y20) rocket.
Yaogan Weixing-12 (37875 2011-066B) was other second-generation electro-optical reconnaissance satellite, launched on November 11, 2011, by the Chang Zheng-4B (Y21) launch vehicle from Taiyuan.
Yaogan Weixing-6 (34839 2009-021A), launched by a Chang Zheng-2C-III (Y19) from Taiyuan on April 22, 2009, was a second-generation SAR satellite developed by SAST, having a spatial resolution of 1.5m.
Other second-generation SAR satellites were the Yaogan Weixing-10 (36834 2010-038A) launch on August 9, 2010, by the Chang Zheng-4C (Y6) launch vehicle from Taiyuan; and the Yaogan Weixing-13 (37941 2011-072A) launch on November 29, 2011, by the Chang Zheng-2C (Y20) launch vehicle from Taiyuan.
The Yaogan Weixing-8 (36121 2009-072A), launched on December 15, 2009, by the CZ-4C (Y4) from Taiyuan was a new generation of optical reconnaissance satellite. Similar to the Yaogan-8 was the mission of Yaogan Weixing-14 launched on May 10th, 2012 by the Chang Zheng-4B (Y12) from Taiyuan.
The YaoGan Weixing-9 mission, launched March 5, 2010 from Jiuquan, had an architecture different from the previous missions on the series. Launched by Chang Zheng-4C (Y5) rocket, the mission put not one but a triplet of satellites in Earth orbit. Flying in formation this three satellites form what looks like a type of NOSS system.
The Yaogan Wrinxing-15 was a optical reconnaissance satellite launched on May 29, 2012 by the Chang Zheng-4C (Y10) from Taiyuan. The launch used a Long March 4C (Chang Zheng-4C) launch vehicle, an optimized version of the Long March 4B (Chang Zheng-4B), using an upper stae with restart capability and a new interstage adapter between the first and second stages. This vehicle also used a 3.35m diameter fairing for the Yaogan 15 ride uphill.
antiterror13
Brigadier
Do you know how good this baby is ? what resolution ? .. I do hope less than 0.5m
Quickie
Colonel
Chang'e 2 is still working. Will visit at the end of the year.
by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Nov 25, 2012
In the eye of Ouyang Ziyuan, Chinese will not only explore the moon and Mars, but the sun, Venus and Jupiter, as well.
"I wish we could travel further away," said Ouyang, chief scientist of China's lunar orbiter project, in an interview with Xinhua on Friday.
"By 'further away,' I mean further than 400,000 kilometers (the distance between Earth and the moon). I hope it will be 1 billion, even 10 billion kilometers away from our home planet."
The Chang'e-2 orbiter, China's second lunar probe, has flown further away, indeed, and will meet with planet number 4179 by the end of the year.
"I hope Chinese people can set their 'footprints' all over the solar system," the 78-year-old scientist said.
Dreams And Responsibilities
Though his name contains the character "yuan," which means "far away" in Chinese, Ouyang had initially focused his career on geological exploration on Earth.
"Maybe this is my destiny," he said.
After studying geology in college and contributing to China's underground nuclear tests, Ouyang finally turned to his beloved career of exploring the moon, a celestial body both familiar and mysterious.
In the late 1990s, after seeing other countries achievements in lunar exploration, Ouyang believed it was his duty and responsibility to promote space exploration in his home country.
"The orbiters are like our eyes, realizing our dream to see the outer world," he said in his office dotted with two globes of the Earth and seven different sized globes of the moon, including one covered in images of the lunar surface mapped by the Chang'e-1.
"Our explorer uses stereo cameras and X-ray spectrometers to map images of the lunar surface from 200 kilometers above it. And the quality of our map is better than Japan and India's," Ouyang said. "The Chang'e-1 only cost 1.4 billion yuan (about 222.22 million U.S. dollars), the same amount used to construct two kilometers of subway in Beijing."
Another breakthrough made by the Chang'e-1 involves measuring the thickness of the soil of the moon to determine the exact amount of helium-3, a resource for nuclear fusion.
"When obtaining nuclear power from helium-3 becomes a reality, the lunar resources can be used to generate electricity for more than 10,000 years for the whole world," he said.
Three years after sending the first orbiter to the moon, the Chang'e-2 created a full high-resolution map of the moon and high-definition images of Sinus Iridium, one half of a 260-kilometer-wide impact crater on the moon.
The Chang'e-3, which is expected to be launched in 2013, will realize a smooth and soft landing on the lunar surface. According to Ouyang, the explorer is operated by a lander and a probe. The telescope, which will be the first telescope based on the moon, will be set on the lander, and the smartest robot on the probe will use radar to explore geological structures 100 meters below the lunar surface and analyze the soil of the moon.
A scientist as well as a lunar enthusiast, Ouyang believes that "what we have explored so far is just a small step in knowing the whole moon."
He is deeply attracted to Earth's only natural satellite and curious about its origins, evolution and future.
Disseminating Popular Science
"People always ask why we keep doing those things that have already been done by others. Chinese people can hardly solve the problems on our home planet, so why explore the moon?" Ouyang said.
Those questions and people's lack of scientific knowledge have made Ouyang realize the necessity of spreading popular science knowledge to the general public.
Someone once told him that he is like a sincere priest, preaching his ideals.
To give lectures to a wide range of audiences, he has prepared more than 20 different presentations appropriate for academicians, government officials, college students and even young students, respectively. He introduces basic information about the moon, China's lunar probe project and the significance of lunar exploration.
"The exploration we do today will have an impact on all of mankind in the future," Ouyang said.
He offered the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo program (1963-1972) as an example: "The program led to the invention of more than 3,000 kinds of high technologies, boosted the country's economy and contributed to its political interests."
"China's exploration of outer space has already promoted technological improvement and innovation and cultivated a great scientific team. The results of our exploration have helped many companies to make technological breakthroughs, thus expanding their market and gaining economic benefits," he said.
Ouyang is satisfied with the knowledge that his work hasn't proved futile. "Many young people send me letters, which inspires me to keep spreading scientific knowledge."
Scientific Romance
The moon is a symbol of beauty in Chinese culture. Plenty of poems have been written about the moon, and the Chang'e orbiters are inspiring more and more Chinese people to dream about flying there.
In reality, however, the moon is a deserted, desolate satellite. Pictures of the orb can be devastating, even heartbreaking, to those who have always imagined it as a place of mystery and wonder.
"I see the moon from a very different perspective. I know its history, every hit by other small celestial bodies," Ouyang said. "In my eyes, what is fascinating about the moon is not what it looks like, but its years of noble acts to save our Earth."
"Our knowledge about the moon will keep improving from both scientific and cultural perspectives," he added.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Nov 25, 2012
In the eye of Ouyang Ziyuan, Chinese will not only explore the moon and Mars, but the sun, Venus and Jupiter, as well.
"I wish we could travel further away," said Ouyang, chief scientist of China's lunar orbiter project, in an interview with Xinhua on Friday.
"By 'further away,' I mean further than 400,000 kilometers (the distance between Earth and the moon). I hope it will be 1 billion, even 10 billion kilometers away from our home planet."
The Chang'e-2 orbiter, China's second lunar probe, has flown further away, indeed, and will meet with planet number 4179 by the end of the year.
"I hope Chinese people can set their 'footprints' all over the solar system," the 78-year-old scientist said.
Dreams And Responsibilities
Though his name contains the character "yuan," which means "far away" in Chinese, Ouyang had initially focused his career on geological exploration on Earth.
"Maybe this is my destiny," he said.
After studying geology in college and contributing to China's underground nuclear tests, Ouyang finally turned to his beloved career of exploring the moon, a celestial body both familiar and mysterious.
In the late 1990s, after seeing other countries achievements in lunar exploration, Ouyang believed it was his duty and responsibility to promote space exploration in his home country.
"The orbiters are like our eyes, realizing our dream to see the outer world," he said in his office dotted with two globes of the Earth and seven different sized globes of the moon, including one covered in images of the lunar surface mapped by the Chang'e-1.
"Our explorer uses stereo cameras and X-ray spectrometers to map images of the lunar surface from 200 kilometers above it. And the quality of our map is better than Japan and India's," Ouyang said. "The Chang'e-1 only cost 1.4 billion yuan (about 222.22 million U.S. dollars), the same amount used to construct two kilometers of subway in Beijing."
Another breakthrough made by the Chang'e-1 involves measuring the thickness of the soil of the moon to determine the exact amount of helium-3, a resource for nuclear fusion.
"When obtaining nuclear power from helium-3 becomes a reality, the lunar resources can be used to generate electricity for more than 10,000 years for the whole world," he said.
Three years after sending the first orbiter to the moon, the Chang'e-2 created a full high-resolution map of the moon and high-definition images of Sinus Iridium, one half of a 260-kilometer-wide impact crater on the moon.
The Chang'e-3, which is expected to be launched in 2013, will realize a smooth and soft landing on the lunar surface. According to Ouyang, the explorer is operated by a lander and a probe. The telescope, which will be the first telescope based on the moon, will be set on the lander, and the smartest robot on the probe will use radar to explore geological structures 100 meters below the lunar surface and analyze the soil of the moon.
A scientist as well as a lunar enthusiast, Ouyang believes that "what we have explored so far is just a small step in knowing the whole moon."
He is deeply attracted to Earth's only natural satellite and curious about its origins, evolution and future.
Disseminating Popular Science
"People always ask why we keep doing those things that have already been done by others. Chinese people can hardly solve the problems on our home planet, so why explore the moon?" Ouyang said.
Those questions and people's lack of scientific knowledge have made Ouyang realize the necessity of spreading popular science knowledge to the general public.
Someone once told him that he is like a sincere priest, preaching his ideals.
To give lectures to a wide range of audiences, he has prepared more than 20 different presentations appropriate for academicians, government officials, college students and even young students, respectively. He introduces basic information about the moon, China's lunar probe project and the significance of lunar exploration.
"The exploration we do today will have an impact on all of mankind in the future," Ouyang said.
He offered the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Apollo program (1963-1972) as an example: "The program led to the invention of more than 3,000 kinds of high technologies, boosted the country's economy and contributed to its political interests."
"China's exploration of outer space has already promoted technological improvement and innovation and cultivated a great scientific team. The results of our exploration have helped many companies to make technological breakthroughs, thus expanding their market and gaining economic benefits," he said.
Ouyang is satisfied with the knowledge that his work hasn't proved futile. "Many young people send me letters, which inspires me to keep spreading scientific knowledge."
Scientific Romance
The moon is a symbol of beauty in Chinese culture. Plenty of poems have been written about the moon, and the Chang'e orbiters are inspiring more and more Chinese people to dream about flying there.
In reality, however, the moon is a deserted, desolate satellite. Pictures of the orb can be devastating, even heartbreaking, to those who have always imagined it as a place of mystery and wonder.
"I see the moon from a very different perspective. I know its history, every hit by other small celestial bodies," Ouyang said. "In my eyes, what is fascinating about the moon is not what it looks like, but its years of noble acts to save our Earth."
"Our knowledge about the moon will keep improving from both scientific and cultural perspectives," he added.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Last edited:
Schumacher
Senior Member
I personally put this above the launch of J15 from Liaoning in terms of military significance.
Was never too excited with Liaoning over the years, will likely only change with China's indigenous carriers.
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