China's Space Program News Thread

[nlalyst]

The CZ-5 is the rocket with the largest "upper stage" that reaches orbit currently in service anywhere in the world right? Ariane 5's is quite a lot smaller? It's an interesting design the CZ-5 has and the volume of space it can be changed to accommodate is impressive and looks like it's been designed specifically to build the space station. If they truly don't have actual de-orbit systems on CZ-5 rocket (assuming it wasn't a failure of the system and they truly just didn't care), maybe the outrage and media hysteria will push them to create one because give it enough launches to build the station, however slim the chances are that the stage smashes into population builds to unacceptable levels eventually. Honestly it shouldn't be that difficult to do.

Only in the B version does the core stage reach orbit. There is no upper stage in this rocket. My guess is that they designed it specifically for the space station and will not pursue this design further. Time will tell.

Are there any other launch systems that leave very significant upper stages in orbit?

Upper stages of other rockets are typically much smaller (2-4 tons) than the 21 ton core of the LM-5B. Sometimes they are de-orbited in a controlled manner or stored in higher orbits. Occasionally, they are left to re-enter in an uncontrolled way. AFAIK, they all have by design the means for a controlled de-orbit. The LM-5B conspicuously doesn't.

 

[ougoah]

Only in the B version does the core stage reach orbit. There is no upper stage in this rocket. My guess is that they designed it specifically for the space station and will not pursue this design further. Time will tell.

Yep. That's my point. The B version of the CZ-5 is an interesting design and seems to be customised for large volume, heavy LEO payloads which suit the task of building the space station.

It's the only rocket I know where there is only one core stage and that one reaches orbit in all 20+tonnes. Indeed time will tell if they modify it with rocket powered de-orbiting systems that help steer it into desirable trajectory when re-entering atmosphere.

 

[gelgoog]

The CZ-5 is the rocket with the largest "upper stage" that reaches orbit currently in service anywhere in the world right? Ariane 5's is quite a lot smaller? It's an interesting design the CZ-5 has and the volume of space it can be changed to accommodate is impressive and looks like it's been designed specifically to build the space station. If they truly don't have actual de-orbit systems on CZ-5 rocket (assuming it wasn't a failure of the system and they truly just didn't care), maybe the outrage and media hysteria will push them to create one because give it enough launches to build the station, however slim the chances are that the stage smashes into population builds to unacceptable levels eventually. Honestly it shouldn't be that difficult to do.

Are there any other launch systems that leave very significant upper stages in orbit? Do they all have rocket powered de-orbit systems in place?

AFAIK the largest payload the Ariane 5 ever deployed was Envisat and that was done with the EPS upper stage.
The core stage wasn't the last stage.

 

[siegecrossbow]

One silver lining is that maybe this will prompt the government to increase fundings to expedite recoverable rocket technology.

 

[H2O]

The amount of China hysteria, bashing, sour grapes, double standard, insecurity, and hate is just astronomical. This is no longer a constructive debate but rather an attempt to demonize China and Chinese achievement no matter what. When MSM uses front pages to coverage such trivial thing and make a big deal out of nothing, you know how comical and pathetic that is.

Nothing wrong with speaking up about it. However, people need to get used to this Cold War behavior as it's not going away any time soon.

Indeed time will tell if they modify it with rocket powered de-orbiting systems that help steer it into desirable trajectory when re-entering atmosphere.

If there is going to be any redesign of the LM-5B, it'll be after the completion of the space station. I could be wrong about this but, both experiment modules (Wentian & Mengtian) is suppose to weight 2,600 less than the core module (Tianhe). If so, maybe there would be enough fuel left in the core stage for a controlled re-entry for those launches.

One silver lining is that maybe this will prompt the government to increase fundings to expedite recoverable rocket technology.

Or a Space plane.

 

[anzha]

Nothing wrong with speaking up about it. However, people need to get used to this Cold War behavior as it's not going away any time soon.

This will get worse. We're not even to the level of Cold War rhetoric yet. Is each side threatening nuclear war yet? It was a constant thing between the USA and USSR back in the day. Many older folks have forgotten and younger haven't experienced the way things were. Both sides are going to hurl invective at each other. People just need to be aware of the propaganda, but be desensitized to it.

People are flipping out over something that's really a nonissue unless the stage crashes into something. I doubt, imaao, it will. The Chinese space agency is more of a pro than that. As I said, let's have a moratorium on the 'Bad China, no cookie' posts.

Back on topic, it will be interesting to see when the first mission to the station will be. Will China send people[1] to the station before the next module? Or will they complete the station first? I'm excited to see what is done.

1. What IS the official name of chinese astronauts? The US has its name. The Russians call them cosmonauts. I know taikonaut was floating around, but that was not official, iirc. Or has it been adopted by China?

 

[Temstar]

This will get worse. We're not even to the level of Cold War rhetoric yet. Is each side threatening nuclear war yet? It was a constant thing between the USA and USSR back in the day. Many older folks have forgotten and younger haven't experienced the way things were. Both sides are going to hurl invective at each other. People just need to be aware of the propaganda, but be desensitized to it.

People are flipping out over something that's really a nonissue unless the stage crashes into something. I doubt, imaao, it will. The Chinese space agency is more of a pro than that. As I said, let's have a moratorium on the 'Bad China, no cookie' posts.

Back on topic, it will be interesting to see when the first mission to the station will be. Will China send people[1] to the station before the next module? Or will they complete the station first? I'm excited to see what is done.

1. What IS the official name of chinese astronauts? The US has its name. The Russians call them cosmonauts. I know taikonaut was floating around, but that was not official, iirc. Or has it been adopted by China?

Next mission is a Tianzhou cargo spacecraft mission, it will be sometime this month.

 

[victoon]

I don't think the size or weight matters in the case of CZ5B. It's the material. All of the Aluminum body will burn up. From pictures of the remains of the previous CZ5B, that big external pipe that fell to earth is likely made of steel. so the criticism that the CZ5B core module is riskier because it is bigger than typical 2nd stage is not valid.

 

[gadgetcool5]

Guys, the level of criticism will ramp up with the level of achievement. No achievement, no criticism. The more achievement, the more criticism. But when the criticism is over and the Western media has moved on to the next anti-China bashing topic the achievement will still be there. China needs to not get distracted by this and focus on the success of its launches-- getting cargo and especially Taikonauts to space safely and returning them to earth safely. That is the ONLY important thing. Keep our eyes on the prize.

 

[H2O]

Back on topic, it will be interesting to see when the first mission to the station will be. Will China send people[1] to the station before the next module? Or will they complete the station first? I'm excited to see what is done.

1. What IS the official name of chinese astronauts? The US has its name. The Russians call them cosmonauts. I know taikonaut was floating around, but that was not official, iirc. Or has it been adopted by China?

As mentioned the next mission will be the unmanned cargo, followed by a manned mission sometime in June. There will be a few more missions of cargo / manned missions before the experiment modules next summer. I believe by78 had posted a infographic somewhere in this thread.