China's Space Program News Thread

[escobar]

More on the 7A launch.

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Fun fact about CZ-7A: Its boosters do not separate from the core. The advantages include fewer moving parts and better control on drop zones. CZ-3B will retire in the years to come, replaced by CZ-7A/E in Xichang with a capacity of 8,2t in GEO using YF-100K/YF-100M

 

[Temstar]

So is there anything materially different between Long March 8 and Long March 7 with two boosters, besides different upper stage and future provisions for reuse?

 

[escobar]

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With this launch, the naval ocean surveillance system constellation is completed.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1370676305046421505

The last three mission patchs may be giving some hint on the surveillance area

 

[escobar]

So is there anything materially different between Long March 8 and Long March 7 with two boosters, besides different upper stage and future provisions for reuse?

No

 

[escobar]

14th plan include plans to build a commercial launch site. Seems to be in Xiangshan, Zhejiang Province
Jiuquan and Wenchang also available in the future

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1370733363456217089

 

[taxiya]

So is there anything materially different between Long March 8 and Long March 7 with two boosters, besides different upper stage and future provisions for reuse?

No. Because
CZ-8 is CZ-722(HO) with a new number series.
More on this naming,

CZ-6A is CZ-722S​

CZ-7 is CZ-724​

CZ-7A is CZ-734(HO)​

etc. etc. if any future combination.​

Because CZ-8 is essentially a renumbered CZ-7 variant, there is no technical provision in CZ-8 for re-usability more than any CZ-7 variant. However, CZ-7 (724) is dedicated for the space station, so there will not be a reusable version of it. The CZ-7A (734) has the same potential as CZ-8 for bundled 1st recovery, but I don't see a purpose for doing so because unlike CZ-8 for commercial medium sized payload launch CZ-7A is for high orbit (GTO) high mass high value payload (government and millitary), a very small sector.

 

[taxiya]

We have heard from various speech or interview. Here comes the official endorsement of CZ-9 program from the "14th five year plan and 2035 vision" by NPC.

第二篇　坚持创新驱动发展　全面塑造发展新优势

第四章　强化国家战略科技力量

第二节　加强原创性引领性科技攻关

在事关国家安全和发展全局的基础核心领域，制定实施战略性科学计划和科学工程。瞄准人工智能、量子信息、集成电路、生命健康、脑科学、生物育种、空天科技、深地深海等前沿领域，实施一批具有前瞻性、战略性的国家重大科技项目。从国家急迫需要和长远需求出发，集中优势资源攻关新发突发传染病和生物安全风险防控、医药和医疗设备、关键元器件零部件和基础材料、油气勘探开发等领域关键核心技术。


Heavy Lift carrier rocket ... ... etc. development.

 

[SciNews]

The Long March-7A launch vehicle

Long March-4C launches Yaogan-31 04

 

[KYli]

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[by78]

A diagram of the core module of China's large space station. Unfortunately, it's too grainy to make out much details. I have annotated whatever I could make out.