China's Space Program News Thread

[escobar]

Second generation optical satellites Block II

• Military name: Jianbing-8 Improved Version or JB-13 (??)
  
• Yaogan-26 launched on 27 December 2014
• Gaofen-8 (civilian version of YG-26) launched on 26 June 2015
• Contractors: CAST
• Orbit: 469 x 481 km x 97.3°; 485 x 491 km x 97.4°

YG-26 has a mirror diameter of 1,3m from CIOMP. With the Rayleigh resolution criterion and an average wavelength of 0,55 µm, we get a theoretical GSD of 25cm.

 

[escobar]

Third generation optical satellites

• Military name: JB-11
  
• Yaogan-14 launched on 10 May 2012
• Yaogan-28 launched on 8 November 2015
• GSD: 45 cm
  
• Contractors: CAST
• Orbit: 469.4 x 471.4 km x 97.24°

 

[SinoSoldier]

According to SpaceFlightNow, the Long March 7 will conduct its maiden launch on June 26, 2016. It will carry a reentry capsule, implying that it will be a human-rated launch vehicle.

 

[Blitzo]

According to SpaceFlightNow, the Long March 7 will conduct its maiden launch on June 26, 2016. It will carry a reentry capsule, implying that it will be a human-rated launch vehicle.

I think it's always been known that LM-7 would be the new human rated launch vehicle... carrying a reentry capsule doesn't change that.
More importantly, the reentry capsule that it will carry (from what I've read), will be a scaled down demonstrator for the new generation human spacecraft to succeed Shenzhou. I imagine the test of a subscale capsule could have been done with a non human rated launch vehicle as well.

 

[SinoSoldier]

I think it's always been known that LM-7 would be the new human rated launch vehicle... carrying a reentry capsule doesn't change that.
More importantly, the reentry capsule that it will carry (from what I've read), will be a scaled down demonstrator for the new generation human spacecraft to succeed Shenzhou. I imagine the test of a subscale capsule could have been done with a non human rated launch vehicle as well.

Yes, it is known that the LM-7 is based off the man-rated LM-2F, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the new rocket will be man-rated as well.

However, the decision to test a scaled-down model of the capsule on the LM-7, specifically, is probably because the LM-7 will be the only (or the first) rocket that is "compatible" with it. CNSA could easily have tested the capsule on a proven LV like the LM-2F/G, but did not for that reason.

 

[Blitzo]

Yes, it is known that the LM-7 is based off the man-rated LM-2F, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the new rocket will be man-rated as well.

However, the decision to test a scaled-down model of the capsule on the LM-7, specifically, is probably because the LM-7 will be the only (or the first) rocket that is "compatible" with it. CNSA could easily have tested the capsule on a proven LV like the LM-2F/G, but did not for that reason.

No, I don't think that makes sense -- the fact that it is a subscale demonstrator, and a demonstrator of only the capsule (rather than full scale spacecraft+capsule), should mean that launching subscale capsule demonstrators is a not going to be a regular occurrence. Therefore, it should mean that whether a rocket is "compatible" with the subscale demonstrator will have no bearing in regards to whether the rocket is compatible with a full scale spacecraft+full scale capsule, because they will be completely different sizes and dimensions anyway.
Given what we know about the payloads that the LM-2 family are compatible with and the variety of payloads that have been launched before, and the potential weight and dimensions of a subscape demonstrator capsule, there is no reason to think that an LM-2 variant rocket could not test a subscape capsule demonstrator instead.

So why are they using LM-7 instead of a proven LM-2 variant? Well, I think they may be using the first launch of LM-7 to test a subscale demonstrator because they would prefer to use proven launch vehicles to actually launch proper (and more expensive) satellites, whereas they can afford to use the first flight of a new rocket to launch a relatively unimportant demonstrator payload...
(in other words, if the first launch of the LM-7 fails, they won't lose anything too valuable, combined with the demand for reliable LM-2 rockets for satellite launches)


That said, I would be interested in what other payloads the LM-7 may have in addition to the subscale capsule demonstrator, or if the capsule demonstrator will be the only payload.

 

[escobar]

China is gearing up for the first launch of the country's next-generation Long March-7 rocket as the last batch of parts arrived at the launch site in south China's Hainan province.The Long March-7 rocket has now entered the implementation stage with the maiden launch currently scheduled for late June, pending all necessary checks.

The rocket was sent to the port of Qinglan in Wenchang City on Saturday afternoon, before being unloaded onto containers on Sunday morning and finally transported to the launch site.

"During the transportation process of the rocket, we strictly followed the prescribed technical requirements and speed control. It is a two-hour distance from the Port of Qinglan to the launch site. We have a certain demand on the load of a bridge that the vehicles carrying the rocket crossed over. The whole moving process went smoothly and efficiently," said Yi Ziqian, deputy director of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC).

Favorable weather conditions allowed the transportation and unloading process to take two days instead of the planned three. Upon the carrier rocket's arrival at the launch site, the assembly procedure began. It will now be subject to tight safety inspections before its planned launch next month.

"The arrival of the Long-March-7 marks the start of the first launch mission. We shall carry out comprehensive testing of the rocket and when all indicators meet with the designed standards, we shall start injecting fuel. The first launch is scheduled for late June," said Yi.

 

[escobar]

Yes, it is known that the LM-7 is based off the man-rated LM-2F,

I don't see how LM-7 is based on LM-2F. Could you elaborate?

However, the decision to test a scaled-down model of the capsule on the LM-7, specifically, is probably because the LM-7 will be the only (or the first) rocket that is "compatible" with it.

You can't draw this conclusion without even knowing the return module mass.

CNSA could easily have tested the capsule on a proven LV like the LM-2F/G, but did not for that reason

How do you know the return module is not "compatible" with LM-2F?

 

[escobar]

I think it's always been known that LM-7 would be the new human rated launch vehicle...

so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the new rocket will be man-rated as well.

I have never heard about LM-7 being man-rated, and I don't think it could launch the next-generation crew vehicle. The lowest version weighs 14t and LM-7 LEO payload capacity is 13,5t...

 

[Blitzo]

I have never heard about LM-7 being man-rated, and I don't think it could launch the next-generation crew vehicle. The lowest version weighs 14t and LM-7 LEO payload capacity is 13,5t...

The LM-7 definitely won't be launching human spacecraft immediately, but out of all the new ticket that are being developed, I think it had always be been accepted that it is going to be a work horse for things including man rated launches. After all it is expected to replace all LM-2,3,4 variants.
As for payload... it is not hard to envision a slightly modified LM-7 for the 14t spacecraft. The difference on weight is somewhat minor such that they will probably not need an entropy different launch vehicle.