China's Space Program News Thread

[no_name]

The Apollo lunar landers left their lower descent module (the part with the spindly leg supports ) on the moon surface. I think they were saying that the Chinese one will not leave parts on the surface.

 

[Quickie]

But is it not obvious? The Apollo landers did not have any launching tower.

TBO, I did feel the wordings wasn't quite right. It implies China has been previously launching spacecraft from the moon by way of a launch tower.

The other possibility is a launch base is mistranslated as a launch tower, but then the line would still mean China has been previously launching spacecraft from the moon using a launch base.

noname has also made a comment on it.

So, probably something was lost, or added, in the translation.

 

[escobar]

Successful launch of first LM-6 rocket...

 

[escobar]

 

[Blitzo]

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China conducts debut launch of Long March 6
September 19, 2015 by Rui C. Barbosa

China initiated a new era in its space exploration with the debut of a new family of launch vehicle. The first Long March-6 (Chang Zheng-6) rocket was successfully launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, with a multi-payload cargo of 20 small satellites. Launch took place at 2300:00 UTC on Saturday.

Long March 6:

The CZ-6 Chang Zheng-6 is a liquid-propellant, small-load space launch vehicle developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST).

The launch vehicle is based on the 3.35m-diameter boosters, which have been developed as a strap-on booster for the CZ-5 family of SLV.

The core stage consists of a single 120t-thrust YF-100 engine that burns oxygen and kerosene (LOX/Kerosene) propellant, which causes less pollution compared to the UDMH/N2O4 (nitrogen tetroxide) propellant currently in use.

The Long March-6 is designed for small-load launch missions, with a sun-synchronous orbit (700km SSO) capability of 1,080 kg.

In September 2009, the Chang Zheng-6 launch vehicle development program was officially approved by the Chinese Government and the first flight was expected to take place in 2013. SAST was tasked with the development of the new launch vehicle in July 2008.

Overall length is 29.237 m with a total mass at liftoff of 103,217 kg. Dry mass of the three stages combined is 9,020 kg. Fairing diameter is 2.25 m / 2.6 m, and the vehicle is capable of launching a payload of 1,080 kg to a 700 km SSO orbit (500 kg if only Chinese tracking stations are used).

The first stage has a 3.35 meter diameter and is equipped with a single YF-100 engine, consuming 76,000 kg of kerosene RP-1/LOX. The YF-100 engine is capable of a ground thrust of 1,177 kN and a ground specific impulse of 2.9 km/s. Burn time is 155 seconds. The first stage uses four 1000 N thrusters for roll control.

The second stage has 2.25 meter diameter and consumes 15,150 kg of kerosene RP-1/LOX. It is equipped with a YF-115 developing 147.1 kN (sea level) or 176.5 kN (vacuum), with a vacuum specific impulse of 3.35 km/s. The second stage uses four 25 N thrusters for roll control.

The third stage is equipped with four engines with 4 kN (each), along with eight 100 N thrusters for attitude control. The engines are powered by a mixture of kerosene and hydrogen peroxide.

The Long March-6 first cargo:

Twenty small Chinese satellites are the cargo of the Long March-6 first mission.

[more in the link]

 

[broadsword]

On Sept. 25, the country is expected to launch another rocket, the Long March 11 carrier rocket (CZ-11) in Jiuquan, in northwest China's Gansu Province, to carry three satellites with it.

Designed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the CZ-11 is the country's first solid launch vehicle and compared to other rockets, it takes only hours to launch, although the preparations usually take months.

China has outlined its five-year space mission in 2011 that included the launch of manned spaceships, next-generation rockets and the use of cleaner fuel. All of these initiatives are expected to help the country achieve its goal to build a space station by 2020.

The report added that the country will launch two more rockets, the Long March 5 and Long March 7, in 2016.

 

[Jeff Head]

China has outlined its five-year space mission in 2011 that included the launch of manned spaceships, next-generation rockets and the use of cleaner fuel. All of these initiatives are expected to help the country achieve its goal to build a space station by 2020.

Given the PRC's record...there is little doubt that short of some major set back or economic disaster that they will most likely achieve most of these goals.

Given the time table, I expect their first space station will be a modest affair...but heck, the US Space Lab was a modest affair too...but nonetheless a great achievement that paved the way for more. I expect the PRC will follow suite.

 

[antiterror13]

Given the PRC's record...there is little doubt that short of some major set back or economic disaster that they will most likely achieve most of these goals.

Given the time table, I expect their first space station will be a modest affair...but heck, the US Space Lab was a modest affair too...but nonetheless a great achievement that paved the way for more. I expect the PRC will follow suite.

Sorry Jeff, China has already operational space station, called Tiangong-1, operational in 2011. Yes it is a modest one.

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The bigger and more advanced version Tiangong-2 is planned to be launched in 2016

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[danielchin]

Some Chinese rockets chasers posted a CZ-6 launch photo on Weibo.

 

[Qi_1528]

I forget where I read this to cite it, but I think the Space station aimed to be in orbit by 2020 will be similar in sizr to the Mir space station. Impressive for a country which only put its first man in space in 2003. And it would have to be a massive catastrophe which stopped this. The Chinese know well the economic opportunities space has in store.