China's Space Program News Thread

[taxiya]

It is not obvious that in-orbit refueling system will be economical at all. This device will likely be expensive; It will be like buying a new pricey battery for a old laptop...

I must say "not...at all" is a bit too strong. After all, if it has no chance of being economically viable, why countries are trying? China is not the only one, U.S., EU and Russia are all doing experiments.

My own understanding is that, on the one hand you have a satellite running out of fuel (for position maintenance) after say 10 years in orbit, the other part runs well, without refueling the only way to have a working satellite is to launch a new satellite, that cost a satellite plus a big rocket plus hundreds of man-hours of launching and controlling. On the other hand, by refueling you pay for a much cheaper refueler and a smaller cheaper rocket with much reduced man-hours of launching since most of the refueler's maneuvering is automated.

 

[antiterror13]

What other sats beside HO satellites do you think is requires to periodically use thrusters to regain altittude?
LO satellites are usually spy satellites but those use chemical propellants because they need to change orbit quickly not because ion thrusters are not available.

As for automated refueling they are already in use in a sense since the Japanese H-II, Russian Progress, European ATV, commercial Dragon, and commercial Cygnus Transfer Vehicle that sends supplies to the ISS are all automated resupply space vehicles.

so, again Japan pioneering of refueling? ... I am so amased and thankful to Japan ... we would be really doomed without Japanese hypertech ... again thank you Japan

 

[AeroEngineer]

lol, nice one.

little japan with their low tech can NOT even send a human in space and yet they manage to do in space refueling.

Oh, BTW. Did you see the little japanese Shin Shin fighter? I wonder if that thing is actually paper plane stick together by glue. lol

 

[escobar]

What other sats beside HO satellites do you think is requires to periodically use thrusters to regain altittude?
LO satellites are usually spy satellites but those use chemical propellants because they need to change orbit quickly not because ion thrusters are not available.

Contextual precision. Ion and new type of propulsion (Hall thruster, VASIMIR, etc..) are great things. But their commercial adoption is another thing. Yes, some very "specialised spacecraft" will use them, but chemical propulsion still have a bright future

 

[escobar]

As for automated refueling they are already in use in a sense since the Japanese H-II, Russian Progress, European ATV, commercial Dragon, and commercial Cygnus Transfer Vehicle that sends supplies to the ISS are all automated resupply space vehicles.

We were talking more about the system being used for most of the satellites not just ISS.

 

[escobar]

so, again Japan pioneering of refueling? ... I am so amased and thankful to Japan ... we would be really doomed without Japanese hypertech ... again thank you Japan

lol, nice one.

little japan with their low tech can NOT even send a human in space and yet they manage to do in space refueling.

Oh, BTW. Did you see the little japanese Shin Shin fighter? I wonder if that thing is actually paper plane stick together by glue. lol

Those kinds of comments does not add anything to the discussion.What is the link with Japan "lack of a manned space program" and Shinshin fighter?

 

[escobar]

I must say "not...at all" is a bit too strong. After all, if it has no chance of being economically viable, why countries are trying? China is not the only one, U.S., EU and Russia are all doing experiments.

It's normal to carry out space experimentation but some of them are not economically viable. US space shuttle program was an amazing technological prowess but...

 

[Equation]

It's normal to carry out space experimentation but some of them are not economically viable. US space shuttle program was an amazing technological prowess but...

The US Space shuttle was quite a success given that without it the ISS would not have been built. The program just got caught in the cost of everything rising plus a bureaucratic NASA and budget restraint brought it to an end.

 

[escobar]

My own understanding is that, on the one hand you have a satellite running out of fuel (for position maintenance) after say 10 years in orbit, the other part runs well, without refueling the only way to have a working satellite is to launch a new satellite, that cost a satellite plus a big rocket plus hundreds of man-hours of launching and controlling. On the other hand, by refueling you pay for a much cheaper refueler and a smaller cheaper rocket with much reduced man-hours of launching since most of the refueler's maneuvering is automated.

Not so simple. We have a commercial vendor of space imagery selling 2m resolution pics from a 10 year old satellite. Now they have to choose between refueling the old sat or launch a new one with 50cm GSD. They will not choose refueling option just because it is less expensive...

 

[escobar]

SJ-16 02 ELINT sat launched, for the Strategic Support Force..