China's Space Program News Thread
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Re: Chinese Satellites
China's Fengyun-IV Meteorological Satellite, an three-axis stabilized satellite, overcomes the world technical challenge by installing imaging sensors and monitors on a satellite, according to news from China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Corporation (CASC).So far, imaging sensors and monitors have always been installed separately on two satellites in the Europe and the United States
The development team of Fengyun-IV has already completed the initial model of Electrical Star product which has passed the review of overall initial model design, according to the CASC.
Besides, the development of initial model of Identifying Star will comprehensively kick off soon.
As China's first earth-pointing three-axis stabilized remote-sensing satellite in geostationary orbit, Fengyun-IV, compared with Fengyun-II, a spin satellite, is added with a vertical sounder, a lightning imaging sensor, a space environment monitor. In addition, its channels for imagers are also greatly increased for the convenience of photographing and observing the atmosphere and ground nature under different spectrums.
As Fengyun-IV has no need to rotate, it can easily and intently gaze at the earth from the sky, thus the time efficiency for it observing the earth rose from five percent to approximate 80 percent, and remarkably increased the efficiency of the satellite observing the ground.
Currently, Fengyun-IV adopts the latest efficient loads, a brand-new satellite platform and various new technologies, boasting 18 subsystems. However, many technologies have yet to be verified.
In addition, Fengyun-IV also needs to continuously adjust the satellite attitude during the process of observing the earth, which increases the technical difficulties of development.
Space Environment Monitor Pack of Fengyun-IV mainly include: high-energy particle detector, radiation instrument, electrode potential detector, fluxgate magnetometer and space environment control management.
It falls into the two development phases of Electrical Star and Identifying Star. So far, initial model of Electrical Star product has been completed developed, and development of initial model of Identifying Star will comprehensively kick off soon.
Fengyun-IV is expected to be launched for the first time in 2015. Up to now, China has successfully launched 12 Fengyun meteorological satellites, seven of which are currently in orbit.
China's Fengyun-IV Meteorological Satellite, an three-axis stabilized satellite, overcomes the world technical challenge by installing imaging sensors and monitors on a satellite, according to news from China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Corporation (CASC).So far, imaging sensors and monitors have always been installed separately on two satellites in the Europe and the United States
The development team of Fengyun-IV has already completed the initial model of Electrical Star product which has passed the review of overall initial model design, according to the CASC.
Besides, the development of initial model of Identifying Star will comprehensively kick off soon.
As China's first earth-pointing three-axis stabilized remote-sensing satellite in geostationary orbit, Fengyun-IV, compared with Fengyun-II, a spin satellite, is added with a vertical sounder, a lightning imaging sensor, a space environment monitor. In addition, its channels for imagers are also greatly increased for the convenience of photographing and observing the atmosphere and ground nature under different spectrums.
As Fengyun-IV has no need to rotate, it can easily and intently gaze at the earth from the sky, thus the time efficiency for it observing the earth rose from five percent to approximate 80 percent, and remarkably increased the efficiency of the satellite observing the ground.
Currently, Fengyun-IV adopts the latest efficient loads, a brand-new satellite platform and various new technologies, boasting 18 subsystems. However, many technologies have yet to be verified.
In addition, Fengyun-IV also needs to continuously adjust the satellite attitude during the process of observing the earth, which increases the technical difficulties of development.
Space Environment Monitor Pack of Fengyun-IV mainly include: high-energy particle detector, radiation instrument, electrode potential detector, fluxgate magnetometer and space environment control management.
It falls into the two development phases of Electrical Star and Identifying Star. So far, initial model of Electrical Star product has been completed developed, and development of initial model of Identifying Star will comprehensively kick off soon.
Fengyun-IV is expected to be launched for the first time in 2015. Up to now, China has successfully launched 12 Fengyun meteorological satellites, seven of which are currently in orbit.
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Re: Chinese Satellites
Scientists have finished preliminary research into a heavy-thrust carrier rocket that could help China send men to the moon and fly to deep space in the future, said Liang Xiaohong, vice-president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
"If approved (by the government), the heavy-thrust carrier rocket will be able to meet the demands of any proposed Chinese mission in space," said Liang, who is also a member of the National Committee of the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
After about two years of research and argument, scientists agreed that China's future heavy-lift carrier rocket should have a lift-off thrust of 3,000 metric tons and be able to send a payload of 100 metric tons into the low-Earth orbit. Liang declined to give more details.
The behemoth launcher will be much more powerful than China's current largest launcher, Long March 5, which is designed with a lift-off thrust of 1,000 metric tons that enables it to send a maximum payload of 25 metric tons to the low-Earth orbit and a payload of 10 tons to the higher geo-stationary orbit.
"China lagged more than 10 years behind the United States, Russia and Europe in the development of large-thrust launchers, and should not repeat the mistake in heavy-thrust launchers," he said.
The academy proposed in 1986 to develop a large-thrust launcher, but it was not approved until 2006.
Now, major space powers are pulling their resources together to develop new heavy-thrust rockets.
According to media reports, NASA in September unveiled the design of a new rocket that could lift up to 130 metric tons. Its retired Saturn V rocket that powered the Apollo moon exploration program could lift 120 metric tons.
And Russia is also developing a heavy-thrust launcher that could lift up to 110 metric tons.
"China should not miss out on these developments again, given its current economic and scientific strength," he said.
China is also researching how to use the boosters and the first two stages of a launch vehicle repeatedly, which could help reduce the launch cost, he said.
China's Long March rockets currently in service are the Long March 1 to 4 series. Aiming to boost capacity, the country is developing a new family of launch vehicles, including Long March 5 to 7.
Liang said that so far, China has made key technological progress in developing a Long March 5 large-thrust carrier rocket. It is hoped that the new generation of rocket will make its maiden flight in 2014.
Engineers and scientists have succeeded in developing the first hydrogen box that will be used to store fuel for the Long March 5 rocket.
He said production of the rocket's key parts will be completed this year.
The Long March 5 rocket will more than triple Chinese rockets' carrying capacity in outer space. 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, he said.
Meanwhile, the Long March 7 carrier rocket, with a launch capacity of 13.5 metric tons in low-Earth orbit and 5.5 metric tons in sun-synchronous orbit, is expected to take its maiden flight within five years.
"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," he said.
China plans to establish its own space lab around 2016 and a manned space station around 2020, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
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 in five years.
Scientists have finished preliminary research into a heavy-thrust carrier rocket that could help China send men to the moon and fly to deep space in the future, said Liang Xiaohong, vice-president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
"If approved (by the government), the heavy-thrust carrier rocket will be able to meet the demands of any proposed Chinese mission in space," said Liang, who is also a member of the National Committee of the 11th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
After about two years of research and argument, scientists agreed that China's future heavy-lift carrier rocket should have a lift-off thrust of 3,000 metric tons and be able to send a payload of 100 metric tons into the low-Earth orbit. Liang declined to give more details.
The behemoth launcher will be much more powerful than China's current largest launcher, Long March 5, which is designed with a lift-off thrust of 1,000 metric tons that enables it to send a maximum payload of 25 metric tons to the low-Earth orbit and a payload of 10 tons to the higher geo-stationary orbit.
"China lagged more than 10 years behind the United States, Russia and Europe in the development of large-thrust launchers, and should not repeat the mistake in heavy-thrust launchers," he said.
The academy proposed in 1986 to develop a large-thrust launcher, but it was not approved until 2006.
Now, major space powers are pulling their resources together to develop new heavy-thrust rockets.
According to media reports, NASA in September unveiled the design of a new rocket that could lift up to 130 metric tons. Its retired Saturn V rocket that powered the Apollo moon exploration program could lift 120 metric tons.
And Russia is also developing a heavy-thrust launcher that could lift up to 110 metric tons.
"China should not miss out on these developments again, given its current economic and scientific strength," he said.
China is also researching how to use the boosters and the first two stages of a launch vehicle repeatedly, which could help reduce the launch cost, he said.
China's Long March rockets currently in service are the Long March 1 to 4 series. Aiming to boost capacity, the country is developing a new family of launch vehicles, including Long March 5 to 7.
Liang said that so far, China has made key technological progress in developing a Long March 5 large-thrust carrier rocket. It is hoped that the new generation of rocket will make its maiden flight in 2014.
Engineers and scientists have succeeded in developing the first hydrogen box that will be used to store fuel for the Long March 5 rocket.
He said production of the rocket's key parts will be completed this year.
The Long March 5 rocket will more than triple Chinese rockets' carrying capacity in outer space. 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, he said.
Meanwhile, the Long March 7 carrier rocket, with a launch capacity of 13.5 metric tons in low-Earth orbit and 5.5 metric tons in sun-synchronous orbit, is expected to take its maiden flight within five years.
"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," he said.
China plans to establish its own space lab around 2016 and a manned space station around 2020, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
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 in five years.
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Re: Chinese Satellites
:O
China Sets Plan For Moon Rocket Engine
Mar 9, 2012
By Bradley Perrett
Xian, China
China is nearing what many space engineers think is the ideal for a family of space launchers: a set of rockets built with just a few standard engines and airframe modules, maximizing production runs. The family—the Long March 5, 6 and 7—will cover the 0.5-25-ton payload territory to low Earth orbit and up to 14 tons to geosynchronous orbit, meeting the great bulk of space launch demands.
So it may come as a surprise that the launcher and engine firms under national space industry group CASC are not satisfied. They are looking at introducing solid rockets into the mix, as boosters or small launchers, including some dropped from aircraft. The Long March 7, at least, will get non-standard second stages as its manufacturer, CASC subsidiary CALT, looks for ways to vary its payload (see following article). Chinese engineers are also working on engines fueled by methane or liquefied petroleum gas.
Although the major engine for the new launcher family, the YF-100, is now revealed to offer excellent performance with an advanced operating cycle, the industry’s main propulsion center, the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology (AAPT), sees reasons to replace it with a much bigger unit. Under that scheme, the big new engine would then be doubled to form the basis of a second powerplant for China’s proposed Moon rocket.
Yet maybe all this should not come as a surprise. China’s space program is clearly well funded. And the country’s devotion to engine development was flagged in 2010 when CASC President Ma Xingrui told a delegation of U.S. space engineers and scientists: “I remind government leaders that engines are the heart of space launch technology, and that is where money must be invested.”
The engine developers have quite a few ideas of how they can spend the money that Ma is obtaining for them, beginning with the expectation that China needs two launchers bigger than the Long March 5—one lifting more than 35 tons to low Earth orbit for manned missions, and the “super-heavy” Moon rocket, research on which has been approved.
With no engine producing more thrust than the 120-metric-ton (260,000-lb.) YF-100, China is still far behind other countries in space propulsion, AAPT engineers Li Ping, Li Bin and Zou Yu told the Asian Joint Conference on Propulsion and Power here on March 2-3. “The thrust requirement of future Chinese heavy or super-heavy launch vehicles is on the order of 4,000-7,000 kn [900,000-1,570,000 lb., about 400-700 tons]” per engine, the officials write in the paper, part of which was also published last year, attracting little attention.
Such an engine would represent a technical and economic challenge. The proposed solution is to first make the largest engine for which China has a viable commercial use, using familiar liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene propellants.
“Based on available technologies and test facilities in China, it is possible to develop a 2,000-3,500-kn [450,000-790,000] class LOX-kerosene engine with single chamber in [a] short time,” say the AAPT engineers. This engine “can be applied to optimize the configuration of [the Long March 5] launch vehicle to reduce engine number and to increase reliability. The second step is to develop the 4,000-7,000-kn-class heavy thrust engine with double chambers with a heavy-power turbo pump.”
CALT has said that a Moon rocket would need 3,000 tons (6.6 million lb.) of thrust at liftoff. In an earlier paper, Li Ping and Li Bin showed two possible launcher configurations. Both had two 9-meter-dia. (29.5-ft.) core stages (compared with a maximum of 10.1 meters on the Saturn V first stage) and four 3.35-meter-dia. kerosene-fueled boosters. In one configuration, the first core stage was fueled by hydrogen, which gives more impulse for its mass, and the other by kerosene, which would be easier to develop and is now backed by the researchers.
The upper stage would use hydrogen. In the earlier paper, the engineers say it is “necessary” to develop a new hydrogen engine of 1,500-2,000 kn, compared with the 700 kn of China’s current largest, the YF-77 of the Long March 5.
In its biggest configuration, the Long March 5 will have four boosters each mounting two YF-100 kerosene engines, plus two hydrogen-fueled engines in the core. Using 10 engines at liftoff heightens the risk of failure, and so the Long March 5’s design has been highly controversial in the Chinese industry.
Separately, China has been working on a staged-combustion hydrogen engine for the highest possible specific impulse. The Long March 5’s core engines use the simpler gas-generator cycle.
The paper presented to the conference can be taken as an approved guide to AAPT’s thinking, since its contents would not be discussed without careful consideration by the authorities. But development of the proposed engines and their launchers has not been approved; AAPT and CALT could yet decide on another path.
New solid-rocket launchers are definitely on the way. The Long March 6, using a YF-100 first stage, has been described as small, responsive launcher, meaning that it can be used promptly. But CALT Principal Engineer Shen Lin told the conference there would be a “new generation of solid launch vehicles, air-launch vehicles and LOX-methane liquid launch vehicles [following a] concept of quick response, small size, low cost and high reliability.”
These launchers will loft small satellites to help deal with natural disasters, Shen says. Western analysts also see military uses—potentially hurling anti-satellite warheads or rapidly launching a reconnaissance spacecraft to acquire urgent targeting data.
Solid-propellant rockets can be launched much faster than even small liquid-propellant rockets such as the Long March 6, notes Eric Hagt, a U.S. analyst who closely follows Chinese space activities. And in modern battle concepts, “immediacy is pretty important.”
Shen gave no figures indicating the size of these solid-propellant rockets, but one industry official says they may also be introduced as boosters for the new Long March family, with the aim of cutting costs—even though that seems counter to the economical scheme of kerosene-fueled modules. China is developing segmented solid rocket boosters, say Li Ping and Li Bin. If the new boosters are related to the new solid-propellant launchers, then the latter are probably not closely related to Kaituozhe 1 (Explorer 1) launcher, a ballistic-missile derivative revealed in 2001.
The Chinese will have to build the solid-propellant launchers at a fairly high rate, perhaps exploiting modularity and segmentation, says a senior U.S. space technology executive. Otherwise they could turn out to be more costly than liquid-propellant engines. The air-launched rockets would be part of the solid-propellant family, says a Chinese official.
The solid-propellant development is not the only Chinese propulsion effort that raises questions of duplication. Foreign executives wonder why China is bothering to pursue a methane launch engine when it already has good powerplants of the right size using kerosene and hydrogen.
Engineers have tested methane fuel by adapting hydrogen engines, using turbopumps instead of tank pressure to feed the combustion chamber, says a Chinese official. A thrust of 60 tons has been officially disclosed, along with possible uses for methane in spacecraft, as distinct from launchers. But Shen’s remarks associated the technology with rapid-response launchers—suggesting that Chinese engineers are working on three kinds of engines for the same task: kerosene, solid and methane. Moreover, China plans to develop a kerosene engine for in-space use, seeming to duplicate the methane work in that area, too. Chinese engineers have also investigated using liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel.
While some CALT engineers are drawing up their plans for the two launchers that would surpass the Long March 5, others are looking further into the future at reusable or semi-reusable spacecraft. At this early stage, the most promising prospect seems to be a winged orbiter that would act as a second stage on an expendable first stage, says one person familiar with the studies.
CASC’s full name is the China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. and CALT’s is the China Academy of Launch Technology. The Xian conference brought together researchers from China, Japan and South Korea.
Credit: CHINA AEROSPACE AND TECHNOLOGY CORP.
:O
China Sets Plan For Moon Rocket Engine
Mar 9, 2012
By Bradley Perrett
Xian, China
China is nearing what many space engineers think is the ideal for a family of space launchers: a set of rockets built with just a few standard engines and airframe modules, maximizing production runs. The family—the Long March 5, 6 and 7—will cover the 0.5-25-ton payload territory to low Earth orbit and up to 14 tons to geosynchronous orbit, meeting the great bulk of space launch demands.
So it may come as a surprise that the launcher and engine firms under national space industry group CASC are not satisfied. They are looking at introducing solid rockets into the mix, as boosters or small launchers, including some dropped from aircraft. The Long March 7, at least, will get non-standard second stages as its manufacturer, CASC subsidiary CALT, looks for ways to vary its payload (see following article). Chinese engineers are also working on engines fueled by methane or liquefied petroleum gas.
Although the major engine for the new launcher family, the YF-100, is now revealed to offer excellent performance with an advanced operating cycle, the industry’s main propulsion center, the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology (AAPT), sees reasons to replace it with a much bigger unit. Under that scheme, the big new engine would then be doubled to form the basis of a second powerplant for China’s proposed Moon rocket.
Yet maybe all this should not come as a surprise. China’s space program is clearly well funded. And the country’s devotion to engine development was flagged in 2010 when CASC President Ma Xingrui told a delegation of U.S. space engineers and scientists: “I remind government leaders that engines are the heart of space launch technology, and that is where money must be invested.”
The engine developers have quite a few ideas of how they can spend the money that Ma is obtaining for them, beginning with the expectation that China needs two launchers bigger than the Long March 5—one lifting more than 35 tons to low Earth orbit for manned missions, and the “super-heavy” Moon rocket, research on which has been approved.
With no engine producing more thrust than the 120-metric-ton (260,000-lb.) YF-100, China is still far behind other countries in space propulsion, AAPT engineers Li Ping, Li Bin and Zou Yu told the Asian Joint Conference on Propulsion and Power here on March 2-3. “The thrust requirement of future Chinese heavy or super-heavy launch vehicles is on the order of 4,000-7,000 kn [900,000-1,570,000 lb., about 400-700 tons]” per engine, the officials write in the paper, part of which was also published last year, attracting little attention.
Such an engine would represent a technical and economic challenge. The proposed solution is to first make the largest engine for which China has a viable commercial use, using familiar liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene propellants.
“Based on available technologies and test facilities in China, it is possible to develop a 2,000-3,500-kn [450,000-790,000] class LOX-kerosene engine with single chamber in [a] short time,” say the AAPT engineers. This engine “can be applied to optimize the configuration of [the Long March 5] launch vehicle to reduce engine number and to increase reliability. The second step is to develop the 4,000-7,000-kn-class heavy thrust engine with double chambers with a heavy-power turbo pump.”
CALT has said that a Moon rocket would need 3,000 tons (6.6 million lb.) of thrust at liftoff. In an earlier paper, Li Ping and Li Bin showed two possible launcher configurations. Both had two 9-meter-dia. (29.5-ft.) core stages (compared with a maximum of 10.1 meters on the Saturn V first stage) and four 3.35-meter-dia. kerosene-fueled boosters. In one configuration, the first core stage was fueled by hydrogen, which gives more impulse for its mass, and the other by kerosene, which would be easier to develop and is now backed by the researchers.
The upper stage would use hydrogen. In the earlier paper, the engineers say it is “necessary” to develop a new hydrogen engine of 1,500-2,000 kn, compared with the 700 kn of China’s current largest, the YF-77 of the Long March 5.
In its biggest configuration, the Long March 5 will have four boosters each mounting two YF-100 kerosene engines, plus two hydrogen-fueled engines in the core. Using 10 engines at liftoff heightens the risk of failure, and so the Long March 5’s design has been highly controversial in the Chinese industry.
Separately, China has been working on a staged-combustion hydrogen engine for the highest possible specific impulse. The Long March 5’s core engines use the simpler gas-generator cycle.
The paper presented to the conference can be taken as an approved guide to AAPT’s thinking, since its contents would not be discussed without careful consideration by the authorities. But development of the proposed engines and their launchers has not been approved; AAPT and CALT could yet decide on another path.
New solid-rocket launchers are definitely on the way. The Long March 6, using a YF-100 first stage, has been described as small, responsive launcher, meaning that it can be used promptly. But CALT Principal Engineer Shen Lin told the conference there would be a “new generation of solid launch vehicles, air-launch vehicles and LOX-methane liquid launch vehicles [following a] concept of quick response, small size, low cost and high reliability.”
These launchers will loft small satellites to help deal with natural disasters, Shen says. Western analysts also see military uses—potentially hurling anti-satellite warheads or rapidly launching a reconnaissance spacecraft to acquire urgent targeting data.
Solid-propellant rockets can be launched much faster than even small liquid-propellant rockets such as the Long March 6, notes Eric Hagt, a U.S. analyst who closely follows Chinese space activities. And in modern battle concepts, “immediacy is pretty important.”
Shen gave no figures indicating the size of these solid-propellant rockets, but one industry official says they may also be introduced as boosters for the new Long March family, with the aim of cutting costs—even though that seems counter to the economical scheme of kerosene-fueled modules. China is developing segmented solid rocket boosters, say Li Ping and Li Bin. If the new boosters are related to the new solid-propellant launchers, then the latter are probably not closely related to Kaituozhe 1 (Explorer 1) launcher, a ballistic-missile derivative revealed in 2001.
The Chinese will have to build the solid-propellant launchers at a fairly high rate, perhaps exploiting modularity and segmentation, says a senior U.S. space technology executive. Otherwise they could turn out to be more costly than liquid-propellant engines. The air-launched rockets would be part of the solid-propellant family, says a Chinese official.
The solid-propellant development is not the only Chinese propulsion effort that raises questions of duplication. Foreign executives wonder why China is bothering to pursue a methane launch engine when it already has good powerplants of the right size using kerosene and hydrogen.
Engineers have tested methane fuel by adapting hydrogen engines, using turbopumps instead of tank pressure to feed the combustion chamber, says a Chinese official. A thrust of 60 tons has been officially disclosed, along with possible uses for methane in spacecraft, as distinct from launchers. But Shen’s remarks associated the technology with rapid-response launchers—suggesting that Chinese engineers are working on three kinds of engines for the same task: kerosene, solid and methane. Moreover, China plans to develop a kerosene engine for in-space use, seeming to duplicate the methane work in that area, too. Chinese engineers have also investigated using liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel.
While some CALT engineers are drawing up their plans for the two launchers that would surpass the Long March 5, others are looking further into the future at reusable or semi-reusable spacecraft. At this early stage, the most promising prospect seems to be a winged orbiter that would act as a second stage on an expendable first stage, says one person familiar with the studies.
CASC’s full name is the China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. and CALT’s is the China Academy of Launch Technology. The Xian conference brought together researchers from China, Japan and South Korea.
Credit: CHINA AEROSPACE AND TECHNOLOGY CORP.
Equation
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escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
I fix the link but the news is only in chinese not in english.
It won't open on my site. Google couldn't find it.
I fix the link but the news is only in chinese not in english.
escobar
Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
China has set a target of completing a space mission of "100 rockets, 100 satellites" during the five years between 2011 and 2015, a senior space executive said Saturday.
On average, China will complete about 20 launch missions each year before 2015, said Zhang Jianheng, deputy general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC).
"The densely arranged launch missions and flight tests have posed an unprecedented challenge to the country's space program," Zhang, a deputy to the country's top legislature, the National People's Congress, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the ongoing parliamentary session that started on Monday.
According to Zhang, China launched 19 satellites, a target orbiter Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 spacecraft with 19 Long March rockets last year, a record high for China's space program in launch numbers.
China has surpassed the United States, which completed 18 launches in 2011, to become the world's No. 2 in terms of launch numbers following Russia's 36 launches, Zhang said.
In 2012, China has planned 30 satellite launches with 21 rockets, including the launch of Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, which is scheduled to carry out China's first manned space rendezvous and docking with Tiangong-1 between June and August.
Zhang said CASC raked in 100 billion yuan (15.87 billion U.S. dollars) in operating income in 2011, bringing the company's total assets to more than 200 billion yuan.He said the company will keep a growth rate of about 20 percent annually and its operating income is expected to hit 250 billion yuan by the year 2015.
China has set a target of completing a space mission of "100 rockets, 100 satellites" during the five years between 2011 and 2015, a senior space executive said Saturday.
On average, China will complete about 20 launch missions each year before 2015, said Zhang Jianheng, deputy general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC).
"The densely arranged launch missions and flight tests have posed an unprecedented challenge to the country's space program," Zhang, a deputy to the country's top legislature, the National People's Congress, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the ongoing parliamentary session that started on Monday.
According to Zhang, China launched 19 satellites, a target orbiter Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 spacecraft with 19 Long March rockets last year, a record high for China's space program in launch numbers.
China has surpassed the United States, which completed 18 launches in 2011, to become the world's No. 2 in terms of launch numbers following Russia's 36 launches, Zhang said.
In 2012, China has planned 30 satellite launches with 21 rockets, including the launch of Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, which is scheduled to carry out China's first manned space rendezvous and docking with Tiangong-1 between June and August.
Zhang said CASC raked in 100 billion yuan (15.87 billion U.S. dollars) in operating income in 2011, bringing the company's total assets to more than 200 billion yuan.He said the company will keep a growth rate of about 20 percent annually and its operating income is expected to hit 250 billion yuan by the year 2015.
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Brigadier
Re: Chinese Satellites
Authorities have completed the initial selection of crew members for China's first manned space docking mission, and the roster includes female astronauts, an official with the country's manned space program has said.
But the final three-person crew will be decided "on the very last condition," said Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of the country's manned space program and deputy head of the General Armament Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The manned spacecraft Shenzhou-9 will take its crew members to board the Tiangong-1 space module lab, which was launched in September last year and completed the country's first space docking with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft in November.
The selected astronauts are in training at the moment, Niu, who is also a deputy to the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), said on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.
Assembly on the Shenzhou-9 and its carrier rocket, the Long March-2F, has been completed, and the manned space docking is due between June and August this year, he said.
"The perfect docking between Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 has laid the perfect foundation for the manned docking this year," Niu said, noting that the manned docking will feature brand new technology.
Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, has been orbiting normally for more than 160 days, and is capable of docking with Shenzhou-9 and accommodating astronauts, he said.
Authorities have completed the initial selection of crew members for China's first manned space docking mission, and the roster includes female astronauts, an official with the country's manned space program has said.
But the final three-person crew will be decided "on the very last condition," said Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of the country's manned space program and deputy head of the General Armament Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The manned spacecraft Shenzhou-9 will take its crew members to board the Tiangong-1 space module lab, which was launched in September last year and completed the country's first space docking with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft in November.
The selected astronauts are in training at the moment, Niu, who is also a deputy to the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), said on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.
Assembly on the Shenzhou-9 and its carrier rocket, the Long March-2F, has been completed, and the manned space docking is due between June and August this year, he said.
"The perfect docking between Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 has laid the perfect foundation for the manned docking this year," Niu said, noting that the manned docking will feature brand new technology.
Tiangong-1, or Heavenly Palace-1, has been orbiting normally for more than 160 days, and is capable of docking with Shenzhou-9 and accommodating astronauts, he said.
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