China's Space Program News Thread

[taxiya]

I have a hunch that the upcoming big 4 m diameter solid rocket booster will win the 2018 science and tech prize.

Sorry to say that it is too early for this booster to win 2018.

YF-100 has been used on operational launching systems LM-7 and LM-5 for many times to win the prize.

The booster is going to fire for the first time in early 2018, only after another tens long-time (in minutes) test burn on the rig, then two operational launch on rockets will it get a prize. That even in the Chinese speed will take a year. So I'd say second half of 2019 at its earliest.

I guess this 4m booster may also be intended for one of the LM-9's two configurations besides being used as a launching system of its own. This would mean that it is not in a hurry, therefor pushing its first operational launch in the time frame of post 2020, many years before LM-9's projected 2028 launch.

 

[SinoSoldier]

Sorry to say that it is too early for this booster to win 2018.

YF-100 has been used on operational launching systems LM-7 and LM-5 for many times to win the prize.

The booster is going to fire for the first time in early 2018, only after another tens long-time (in minutes) test burn on the rig, then two operational launch on rockets will it get a prize. That even in the Chinese speed will take a year. So I'd say second half of 2019 at its earliest.

I guess this 4m booster may also be intended for one of the LM-9's two configurations besides being used as a launching system of its own. This would mean that it is not in a hurry, therefor pushing its first operational launch in the time frame of post 2020, many years before LM-9's projected 2028 launch.

Does the prize require that the technology be used for a commercial/military service? If so, then you're probably right that we won't see it get the prize.

LM-9 configuration has been set with all-liquid boosters and core; the 4m booster will be used for Kuaizhou rockets or perhaps future enlarged variants of the CZ-5.

 

[taxiya]

Does the prize require that the technology be used for a commercial/military service? If so, then you're probably right that we won't see it get the prize.

I don't know that for sure. But usually China does not award something before it is proven or put into operation, often the prize comes long time after that. Examples are Professor Ma got his award after EM cat has been tested and select for operation, or his IEPS being chosen to put on the sub. This is the pattern that I based my thought.

LM-9 configuration has been set with all-liquid boosters and core; the 4m booster will be used for Kuaizhou rockets or perhaps future enlarged variants of the CZ-5.

You are probably right here. The last information mentioning SRB for LM9 was March 2017

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CZ-9火箭采用“通用化、系列化、组合化”发展策略，三个构型的对应结构状态相同，可模块化组合。可捆绑液体助推器，也可以捆绑固体助推器。

After that, I can not find anything new about the final configuration. We will probably have to wait till the program being setup officially, end of 2018 perhaps.

 

[taxiya]

Another thing about CZ-9 is "three configurations" in this report

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CZ-9火箭采用“通用化、系列化、组合化”发展策略，三个构型的对应结构状态相同，可模块化组合。可捆绑液体助推器，也可以捆绑固体助推器。

So far all foreign reports talked about only two configurations. One is LOX/LH core + SRB, the other being LOX/Kerosene core and boosters. This is the first time for me to know there is a 3rd configuration. Is it still three in the plan right now? We have to keep on digging and waiting.

 

[antiterror13]

Successful launch of the 26th and 27th Chinese navigation satellite Beidou this morning.

Great news!!!

18 BeiDou-3 satellites into space in 2018

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Beidou is much more accurate due to new rubidium atomic clocks

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[duncanidaho]

LM 2D with LKW-3 earth observing satellite taek off.

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[Hendrik_2000]

The technical failure that caused the failure of the second CZ-5 heavy launcher flight was a manufacturing error on one of the two first-stage YF-77 cryogenic engines. The resumption of flight is planned now for the end of 2018.

 

[Hendrik_2000]

China Aerospace - Beidou IoT(Internet of Thing) module in Chongqing world debut

 

[taxiya]

Something I just learnt about Beidou's distinct design feature that makes it more accurate than GPS and Galileo when completed.

Both GPS and Galileo have ONLY MEO satellite. Beidou has 5 extra GEO and 3 IGSO satellites . The GEO/IGSOs broadcast Augmentation, Ionosphere disturbance, satellite clock drifts etc. to the end user device to improve accuracy. In short Beidou system is equal to GPS/Galileo + all separate assistant/augmentation systems (aGPS and DGPS for example).

I remember Galileo was initially designed to have GEOs as well same as Beidou. But now it seems Europe has dropped that idea.

 

[antiterror13]

Something I just learnt about Beidou's distinct design feature that makes it more accurate than GPS and Galileo when completed.

Both GPS and Galileo have ONLY MEO satellite. Beidou has 5 extra GEO and 3 IGSO satellites . The GEO/IGSOs broadcast Augmentation, Ionosphere disturbance, satellite clock drifts etc. to the end user device to improve accuracy. In short Beidou system is equal to GPS/Galileo + all separate assistant/augmentation systems (aGPS and DGPS for example).

I remember Galileo was initially designed to have GEOs as well same as Beidou. But now it seems Europe has dropped that idea.

GEO sat is more expensive also the launching is more expensive