China's Space Program News Thread

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An upgraded carrier rocket has completed assembling and is ready for China's first manned space docking due between June and August this year, an official with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology said Saturday.

The carrier rocket, a modified model of the Long March-2F, is designed with a higher degree of reliability and equipped with more advanced positioning software to ensure more precise entry into the orbit, said Liang Xiaohong, deputy head of the academy affiliated to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

"Engineers with the academy have made modifications on the rocket to offer astronauts a safer and more comfortable journey to the space," said Liang, who is attending the annual session of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.

China plans to launch its manned Shenzhou-9 spacecraft between June and August this year, and then conduct a space rendezvous and docking mission with the orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab module, a spokesman for China's manned space program said last month.

The space docking mission will be manually conducted by astronauts, giving China another chance to test its docking technology, the spokesman said.

Authorities have picked three astronauts for the manned docking and they have already completed their training.

One of the three Shenzhou-9 crew members will not board the Tiangong-1 space module lab, but will remain inside the spacecraft as a precautionary measure in case of emergency.

China launched the Tiangong-1 in September last year and completed the country's first-ever space docking with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft in November.

 

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China has made key technological progress in developing Long March-5 large-thrust carrier rocket and it is hopeful that the new generation rocket will make its maiden flight in 2014, a rocket scientist said Saturday.

Liang Xiaohong, deputy head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said on the sidelines of the annual session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, which opened Saturday afternoon.

The academy designs and manufactures a series of rockets for China's space projects.

Engineers and scientists have succeeded in developing the first hydrogen box that will be used to store fuel for the Long March-5 rocket, said Liang, who is a member of the CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body.

He said production of the rocket's key parts, the fairing structure that measures five meters in diameter and major fuel storage boxes will be completed within this year.

According to Liang, the Long March-5 rocket will more than triple Chinese rockets' carrying capacity in the outer space, with a maximum low Earth-orbit payload capacity of 25 tonnes and geosynchronous orbit payload capacity of 14 tonnes.

Using non-toxic and pollution-free propellant, the 60-meter-long rocket will be equipped with four propellers, with each measuring 3.35 meters in diameter, Liang said.

China has sought to develop non-toxic, low-cost, highly reliable, adaptable and safe carrier rockets in its research of new generation rockets to prepare for the establishment of a space station and the country's next-stage lunar probe mission.

China's Long March rockets in service include the Long March-1, Long March-2, Long March-3 and Long March-4 series.

China started the development of modern carrier rockets in 1956, and Long March rockets have become the main carriers for satellite and spacecraft launching.

The Long March rockets have made more than 150 flights. The Shenzhou spaceships and lunar orbiters were all launched by Long March rockets.

 

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The Long March 7 carrier rocket, one of China's latest generation of rockets, is expected to make its first voyage within the next five years, an official with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology said Saturday.

Fuelled by an environmentally-friendly propellant, the Long March 7 is expected to have a launch capacity of 13.5 tonnes in low-Earth orbit and 5.5 tonnes in Sun-synchronous orbit, said Liang Xiaohong, deputy head of the academy, which is affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

"The Long March 7 will be able to carry cargo spacecraft for China's future space station program and fulfill the long-term needs of the country's manned space program," said Liang, who is currently attending the annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.

China plans to establish its own space lab around 2016 and a manned space station around 2020.

Liang said he expects the new generation of carrier rockets to phase out some of China's in-service rockets and handle the bulk of China's space missions by 2021.

China's Long March rockets currently in service include the Long March-1, Long March-2, Long March-3 and Long March-4 series.

China started the development of modern carrier rockets in 1956. Long March rockets have become the main carriers for satellite and spacecraft launches.

Long March rockets have been launched more than 150 times. China's Shenzhou spacecraft and lunar orbiters were all launched by Long March rockets.

 

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To guarantee the perfect rendezvous of Shenzhou VIII spacecraft with Tiangong-1 space lab module, a major technological breakthrough is necessary. The microwave docking radar developed by China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp. (CASIC) is exactly the giant leap forward that made the difference.

For the rendezvous, or technically speaking docking, to happen, real-time parameters e.g. flight trajectory, velocity, relative position and distance have to be obtained. After acquisition and processing of such data, the super computer will give docking commands, instructing two spacecraft to proceed to the "rendezvous point".

Radars are widely employed in the scientific world, enabling us to measure parameters such as speed and distance. As can be seen from ubiquitous parking radars, the biggest advantage of radar lies perhaps in its ability to adapt to changing environments, e.g. alternation of day and night, precipitation and other weather conditions. Sure enough, speed measurement radars are more sophisticated in nature than the common ones. Then, what are the pros and cons of various radars capable of spacecraft measurement? Laser radars can generate 3-dimensional images, but are characterized by shorter range due to atmospheric attenuation loss. Microwave radars feature stronger measuring capabilities, better anti-jamming ability and higher accuracy. However, the accuracy of microwave radar is inversely correlated with measuring distance. The invention of a high-accuracy microwave radar which is capable of measuring short, medium and long range parameters clearly would have filled the gap. But due to stringent technical requirements, few companies across the country can meet the challenge.

After years of research& development, through trials and errors, the 25th Institute of the 2nd Academy CASIC has managed to produce the country's first high-precision microwave radar. With a maximum measuring range reaching hundreds of kilometers and minimum range of a mere dozen meters, the ground-breaking radar is accurate to centimeters in distance measurement. In addition, it is even more accurate in terms of angular and speed measurement, making it the perfect choice for spacecraft measurement.

Besides excellent performance, the small, light-weighted microwave radar is easy to operate and maintain. As small as an Ipad 2, this device weights less than 12 kilograms. This high-accuracy microwave radar is indeed a technological breakthrough for China.[/QUOTE]

 

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China's third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, is expected to be launched next year and conduct a moon landing and lunar explorations, its designer said.

Different from the previous two orbiters, Chang'e-3 has "legs" to support the spacecraft in landing, said Ye Peijian, chief commander of Chang'e-3 at China Academy of Space Technology.

The orbiter will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for territory surveys, living conditions assessment, and space observations, Ye, a member of China's top political advisory body.

The 100-kg lunar rover, China's first such device, is designed to operate on the moon for over three consecutive months, Ye said on the sidelines of the advisory body's current annual session.

It must be capable of avoiding large craters and climbing through smaller ones, Ye said. An advanced recognition and navigation system will be installed, and a telecommunications system will allow scientists to control the rover from Earth.

Moreover, the rover will have to endure energy the frigid and prolonged lunar night, which is as long as seven solar days and can see temperatures drop below minus 170 degrees Celsius.

To solve the problem, Ye said they have designed solar wings that can stretch out to collect sunlight in the daytime and shield the equipment at night.

"We have made breakthroughs in all these fields," Ye said, predicting the launch to be scheduled in 2013.

The launch of Chang'e-3 and Chang'e-4 is part of the second step of China's three-phrase lunar probe projects of orbiting, landing and returning.

China launched the Chang'e-1 in 2007 and the Chang'e-2 2010. The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon while the second one created a full higher-resolution map of the moon and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridium.

 

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China will launch 12 meteorological satellites before 2020 to further boost the country's weather monitoring capabilities, a senior meteorological official said Saturday.

The orbiters are among 14 meteorological satellites that are scheduled to be launched as part of a 10-year plan created by the China Meteorological Administration, said Zheng Guoguang, director of the administration.

"The launch of these satellites will dramatically boost China's weather monitoring capabilities, providing better services for a variety of industries," Zheng, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, said ahead of the body's upcoming annual session.

On Jan. 13, China successfully launched meteorological satellite Fengyun-II 07 from its southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

The Fengyun-II 07 is the 13th meteorological satellite launched by China since 1988, bringing its total number of meteorological satellites to seven.

With improvements based on previously-launched satellites, the Fengyun-II 07 is particularly useful for monitoring emergent natural disasters, Zheng said.

He also disclosed that China will launch its third Fengyun-III satellite at the end of this year or early 2013.

 

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China's third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, is expected to be launched next year and conduct a moon landing and lunar explorations, its designer said.

Different from the previous two orbiters, Chang'e-3 has "legs" to support the spacecraft in landing, said Ye Peijian, chief commander of Chang'e-3 at China Academy of Space Technology.

The orbiter will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for territory surveys, living conditions assessment, and space observations, Ye, a member of China's top political advisory body.

The 100-kg lunar rover, China's first such device, is designed to operate on the moon for over three consecutive months, Ye said on the sidelines of the advisory body's current annual session.

It must be capable of avoiding large craters and climbing through smaller ones, Ye said. An advanced recognition and navigation system will be installed, and a telecommunications system will allow scientists to control the rover from Earth.

Moreover, the rover will have to endure energy the frigid and prolonged lunar night, which is as long as seven solar days and can see temperatures drop below minus 170 degrees Celsius.

To solve the problem, Ye said they have designed solar wings that can stretch out to collect sunlight in the daytime and shield the equipment at night.

"We have made breakthroughs in all these fields," Ye said, predicting the launch to be scheduled in 2013.

The launch of Chang'e-3 and Chang'e-4 is part of the second step of China's three-phrase lunar probe projects of orbiting, landing and returning.

China launched the Chang'e-1 in 2007 and the Chang'e-2 2010. The first probe retrieved a great deal of scientific data and a complete map of the moon while the second one created a full higher-resolution map of the moon and a high-definition image of Sinus Iridium.

Yes...I smell a moon base coming around the 2020s!

 

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Yes...I smell a moon base coming around the 2020s!

I hope you are joking. If not, you are for a big dissapointment. It will be quite good if china manages a moon landing in 2030, let alone a moon base.

 

[Lion]

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I hope you are joking. If not, you are for a big dissapointment. It will be quite good if china manages a moon landing in 2030, let alone a moon base.

2020 for China to land on moon is already slow...