China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

An update on the Long March 10. A special high-altitude test bench for the rocket's third stage engine (YF-75E) has been completed and will be put into use by the end of the year.

The new vertical high-altitude engine test bench has successfully completed its first ignition test, marking its operational status. The test bench is the largest of its kind in Asia. It's capable of simulating vacuum environment and allows for long-duration continuous hot test runs lasting thousands of seconds.

 

[by78]

(Continued from above...)

More presentation slides from Zhongke.

Current and planned rocket lineup:
– Lijian-1 in active service with a 500km/SSO carrying capacity of 1.5t.
– Lijian-2 under active development with a 500km/SSO capacity of 7.8t, first flight in 2024, will be the main workhorse for the launch of Shanghai Qianfan constellation (上海垣信千帆星座).
– Lijian-2 Heavy, 500km/SSO capacity of 12t.
– Lijian-3, 500km/SSO capacity of 20t (with recovery).
– Lijian-3 will also be used for space tourism, carrying a spacecraft for space tourism; suborbital flight (100-120km altitude), carrying capacity of 1.5 to 2 tons. First suborbital test flight planned for 2024 and will officially take in space tourists in 2028.

Two engines unveiled:
– Both use LOX/Kerosene and extensively use 3D printed components.
– Liqing-1 engine: thrust 20 tons.
– Liqing-2 engine: thrust 85 tons.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

, it intends to build a space tourism park where 10 reusable Lijian-3 launch vehicles will work in shifts to send tourists to space. Each spacecraft is capable of carrying seven passengers and features four large portholes for viewing.

 

[taxiya]

accidentally come across this old news about the new test facility in Tongchuan for YF-130.

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

It says the two test stands are 700t classes. YF-130's standard thrust is 480t, max (110%) would be 528t. 700t gives a very big margin.

This makes me wonder what is the old 500t test site intended for when it was built? The margin would be too big for YF-100 (the latest variant being 130t). Of course it can be used by YF-135 (<= 396t), but we know that YF-135 as a slightly later design than YF-130 (a younger sibling) shouldn't have had its test site built earlier than YF-130. Another explanaiton is that the 500t site was built to the highest thrust that China was capable of at the time without intention for a specific engine.

 

[tiancai8888]

Tianbing's new schedule for the maiden launch of Tianlong-3. Compared to previously stated intentions, everything has been shifted to the right by three months, give or take. Currently the first stage is being assembled, with a full system test to be carried out in June. Launch is now expected in Q3, as opposed in June as the company had previously hoped.

That's more realistic. lots of work need to be done, IMO maiden launch at Sep & Oct is much more reasonable.

 

[by78]

A photo of Earth taken by Fengyun-4B 12 hours ago.

 

[by78]

Tianhui has successfully completed the first full-system ignition test of its 85-ton LOX/Kerosene Qiaolong-1 (巧龙一号) engine.

The phase one of Tianhui's new engine production base will come online in early 2025. The base will produce company's lineup of LOX/Kerosene reusable engines and will also be home to a new engine test bench that will be operational in Q3 of this year. The base is to eventually occupy some 50 acres. Separately, Tianhui will begin construction in July of 2025 on a rocket assembly plant in Mianyang, Sichuan.

 

[tphuang]

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

continued cooperation between China and Brazil involving CBERS and Space Weather Labs