China's Space Program Thread II

[escobar]

As launch capacity is identified as the main bottleneck for the deployment of China's megaconstellations a "Commercial Launch Demonstration Zone" is planned in Jiuquan. This launch site would have shared launchpads for commercial launch companies. Jiuquan has 2 pads under construction, one for SP and one for LS. These two are separate from the shared "Commercial Launch Demonstration Zone"

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[Sinnavuuty]

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Argentina's government considers inspection of Chinese space station in Neuquén​

Echoing concerns of US officials, President Javier Milei's administration believes there are irregularities in contracts signed authorising the Espacio Lejano space station, a Chinese base in southern Neuquén province, as well as its activities.

Javier Milei Mulls Formal Inspection of Secret Chinese Space Station in Argentina

 

[gelgoog]

Good luck with that. If he thinks dealing with China is like when they stole Venezuela's Boeing 747 and gave it to the US.
China would just freeze their Yuan swap lines and would watch the Argentine economy scream. Or momentarily stop imports of food from Argentina. And then the rich landowners in Argentina would take of Milei by themselves.

 

[Cybertron42]

As launch capacity is identified as the main bottleneck for the deployment of China's megaconstellations a "Commercial Launch Demonstration Zone" is planned in Jiuquan. This launch site would have shared launchpads for commercial launch companies. Jiuquan has 2 pads under construction, one for SP and one for LS. These two are separate from the shared "Commercial Launch Demonstration Zone"

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SP and LS?

 

[by78]

Another supplier (LightYear Exploration Technology) for stainless steel propellant tanks.

LightYear Exploration has completed a

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and revealed that it plans to complete the design and fabrication of its largest stainless steel propellant tank yet. It will have a diameter of 4m and a wall thickness of 1.5mm

 

[by78]

The private launch company i-Space (also known as Interstellar Glory, Space Honor, and Starcraft Glory) has recently completed two partial system tests of its 100-ton re-usable variable-thrust LOX/Methane JD-2 engine. The company is now assembling a prototype JD-2 for a full-system test run scheduled for May.

i-Space (also known as Interstellar Glory, Space Honor, and Starcraft Glory) has successfully completed a series of stress tests on its 100-ton reusable JD-2 engines, during which the engines were pushed beyond their normal operating envelope in order to discover any weaknesses and flaws. The engines passed the stress tests successfully, and JD-2 will now enter the mass production stage, paving the way for the SQX-3 launch vehicle.

 

[by78]

A conference schedule that lists foreign applicants who requested Chang'e-5 lunar samples. The applicants will be defending the merit of their applications at the conference in the hope that they will be approved. Good luck to Mr. Zeigler.

 

[by78]

Princess Sirindhorn of Thailand visits the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory.

 

[by78]

A photo of the North American solar eclipse taken by an imaging payload developed by

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.

 

[by78]

The private startup Beijing Arrowhead/Space Epoch (箭元科技公司) has successfully conducted a splashdown test of its reusable LOX/Methane XZY-1 rocket. The first stage of the rocket –– encased in stainless steel –– was dropped into sea water to simulate landing impact and was subsequently recovered. After cleaning and inspection, all systems and components (nozzles, engine, fuel tank, servos, etc.) remained in satisfactory condition, and the first stage can be re-used.

Next, the company plans to conduct a splashdown and towed recovery test in the open ocean by mid-2024. If that test is successful, a sub-orbital launch, splashdown, and towed recovery test will follow by the end of 2024.

https://imgur.com/WqV1bIP

A recruitment advertisement from Arrowhead/Space Epoch states the company intends to carry out orbital launch and recovery of the XZY-1 reusable launch vehicle in 2025.

The recruitment advert also mentions a second, much larger rocket called FireWalker (火行者运载火箭):
– 100 ton payload capacity to LEO
– Reusability: 100 times