China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

High-resolution images from the Siwei Gaojing-3 01 launch yesterday.

 

[by78]

(Continued from above...)

Siwei Gaojing-3 01 has already beamed back some images.

 

[by78]

LandSpace has delivered the first TQ-15A engine for the second stage of the improved Zhuque-2 rocket. TQ-15A will replace the TQ-11 and TQ-12 previously used in the second stage of Zhuque-2.

TQ-15A increases vacuum thrust by 11.8%, vacuum specific impulse by 126m/s, and has a 60%~100% thrust adjustment range, and it can be started multiple times.

TQ-15A is part of the A-family of engines that also includes TQ-12A, which improves on the TQ-12 by increasing thrust by 9% and specific impulse by 40m/s, while achieving a weight reduction of 100kg.

With the delivery of TQ-15A, the improved Zhuque-2 rocket will now enter the final assembly stage ahead of its first launch in the second half of 2024.

LandSpace has successfully tested a new niobium alloy nozzle for the TQ-15A engine. This nozzle has a diameter of 1.6m and a height of 1.3m. It is the largest niobium alloy nozzle ever made in China and will further improve the performance of TQ-15A, which is used in the 2nd stage of the improved Zhuque-2 rocket.

 

[by78]

Mr. Liu Baiqi (刘百奇), chairman of Galactic Energy, has revealed that Pallas-1's maiden flight is scheduled to take place toward the end of this year. He also said the company plans 10-12 launches for its Ceres-1 launch vehicle this year.

Some images of the Pallas-1 rocket being assembled.

 

[by78]

DeepBlue's reusable Thunder-R1 LOX/kerosene engine has accumulated 130 test runs and is now deemed mature. Next year, the company will conduct a high-altitude VTVL test of the first stage of its Nebula-1 rocket.

An update on the Nebula-1 launch vehicle.

DeepBlue has successfully completed a hot test run of Nebula-1's first stage (three engines, parallel staging). All performance parameters have met design expectations.

The planned high-altitude VTVL test of the Nebula-1's first stage is on track to take place later this year.

 

[LuzinskiJ]

True, the average property price on Hainan island in 2024 is RMB16,156.74 per sq metre. or 2,231 USD per meter square. in Jiuquan property average property cost is RMB3,050 per sq metre, or USD421 per meter square. The desert where the Jiuquan space launch site is located, the land prices would be much much lower then the average of USD 421.

Beach front property are premium lands because of tourism and would cost even much higher than the average price, and the space launching sites are always located near sea front for safety reason.

If the need for more frequent launches arises, sea based platform off the island of Hainan may be a better choice. However, there is a problem of annual typhoon season in South China Sea, which makes Hainan island not an ideal all year round all weather launching location.

Too bad China can't build launch sites on Taiwan. It would be a great way to increase cross-strait commerce and relations. Although the Typhon is there on Taiwan as well.

 

[by78]

A Long March 2F carrying Shenzhou-18 has been transferred to launchpad. The launch is due in about a week.

 

[by78]

2024 China Space Day poster.

 

[by78]

According to the Chinese National Astronomical Observatory, the

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

, more than three times the total number of pulsars discovered by other telescopes during the same period.

 

[by78]

LandSpace plans more VTVL tests for 2024, including a VTVL test scheduled for June, which will reach an altitude of 10km.

Specs for the VTVL test vehicle:
– Diameter: 3.35m
– Length: 18.3m
– Diameter with landing legs fully extended: 11.6m
– Propulsion: one 80-ton reusable TQ-12 engine
– Take-off weight: 50.3 tons
– 45% to 110% thrust adjustment range with multiple ignition capability

LandSpace has finished assembling the test vehicle for the upcoming 10km VTVL/hop test.

Specs for the VTVL test vehicle:
– Diameter: 3.35m
– Length: 18.3m
– Diameter with landing legs fully extended: 11.6m
– Propulsion: one 80-ton reusable TQ-12 engine
– Take-off weight: 50.3 tons
– 45% to 110% thrust adjustment range with multiple ignition capability