China's Space Program News Thread

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China to launch world's first X-ray pulsar navigation satellite
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The China Academy of Space Technology has announced plans to launch the world's first X-ray pulsar navigation satellite (XPNAV－1) in November.The move brings autonomous spacecraft navigation and a more precise deep-space GPS one step closer to reality.
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X-ray pulsar navigation is an innovative navigation technique wherein periodic X-ray signals emitted from pulsars are used to determine the location of a spacecraft in deep space.

Current ground-based navigation methods are limited by the time delay between spacecraft and the Earth. However, for certain type of pulsars, called "millisecond pulsars," pulses of radiation occur with the regularity and precision of an atomic clock. As a result, in some scenarios, the pulsar X-ray can take less time to estimate a location. This leads to more precise measurements of a spacecraft’s location.

However, since X-rays from pulsars are absorbed by the atmosphere, scientists must launch satellites to continue research of the new technology. According to Shuai Ping, chief scientist behind the research of XPNAV-1 satellite, the key aim of this satellite is to detect the details of X-ray signals of 26 nearby pulsars, and to create a "pulsar navigation database." This target could be achieved within five to 10 years, Shuai estimates.

X-ray pulsar navigation techniques are an improvement over the current navigation methods of the ground-based Deep Space Network (DSN) and the European Space Tracking (ESTRACK) network. The time delay affecting DSN and ESTRACK can be up to several hours for a mission taking place near the outer planets, and even longer for a mission outside the solar system.
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A Small Scaled Commercial Suborbital Tourism Vehicle :
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New Progress of China Human Spaceflight Technology :
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LandSpace-1 Small Launcher Dedicated to Micro/Nano Satellite Missions :
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Design and On-orbit Test for Video Satellite Tiantuo-2 :
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China's Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft and its carrier rocket Long March-2F are both in good condition for the launch mission scheduled for Monday morning. The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft will be launched at 07:30. The flight crew consists of astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong and the spacecraft will dock with Tiangong-2 after entering the orbit.

"This mission is only 32 days after the launch of the space lab Tiangong-2. We had a very tight schedule to meet the launch window (a time period during which a spacecraft must be launched in order to reach an intended target ). We've checked all the systems includes the filling system at the launching site. Everything is operating normally," said Rong Yi, deputy chief designer of Long March-2F at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

The checking of the pre-launch condition of Shenzhou-11 is also completed. "The two astronauts have experienced the cabin and we have exercised all systems at the launching site. The astronauts gave very positive feedback on our design and the environment of the cabin. All the preparations are completed as expected," said Jia Shijin, deputy general designer of Shenzhou-11 at the China Academy of Space Technology.

Tiangong-2 is currently operating in a 393 kilometers near-circular docking orbit. The status is stable. The equipment works normally. The consumable resources, such as propellant, are abundant, which can satisfy the needs of the docking mission and astronauts' stay.
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Scientists have improved the interior of the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft to make it more comfortable and convenient for astronauts during their 33-day orbital flight. To move in the weightlessness in space, the astronauts need to depend on a facility named stopper. The handrails of stoppers of the Shenzhou-11 have been improved to better fit the work and life of astronauts.

"The astronauts will float because of the microgravity in space. For example, when he need to use the toilet, the facilities around need to be fixed. We have always been working to improve these kinds of details," said Ma Xiaobing, deputy chief designer of the Shenzhou-11 at the China Academy of Space Technology.

The priority of manned space flight mission is to guarantee the safety of astronauts. Every detail of the Shenzhou-11 is improved on the basis of safety. "Our astronauts need to move between the orbital cabin and the reentry capsule, and their movements may touch the seal ring of the cabin door and affect the airtightness of the spacecraft. So we add a protection cover that will cover the door when it's open," said Ma.

In the past the astronauts need to wear a wired headphone to communicate with colleagues on the earth. This time a wireless headphone replaces the traditional one, which enables the astronauts to move more freely.

"The cable on a wired headphone limited the movement of astronauts, so this time we prepared wireless headphones in the Tiangong-2 space lab. The communication between astronauts and the ground will be conducted through bluetooth headsets," said Bai Linhou, chief director of the Space Lab System at the China Academy of Space Technology.
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