China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

Remote control station for the lunar rover. Not sure if this is for the Yutu-1 or Yutu-2.

 

[by78]

Images of the newly opened Shenzhen–Zhongshan bridge-tunnel link taken by Jilin-1 Kuanfu-01.

 

[by78]

China now has more than 900 satellites in service.

 

[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

Some slides on the XZY-1 launch vehicle from Arrowhead/Space Epoch and the company's future plans.

Specs:
– Payload to LEO: 6.5 tons
– Reusability: 20 times
– Length: 64m
– Fairing diameter: 5.2m
– Stainless body, splashdown recovery

The company aims to have the capacity for 25 XZY-1 launches annually. First-stage splashdown recovery test will be carried out in June of 2024, to be followed by a sub-orbital splashdown recovery in December of 2024. The company aims to achieve full reusability by the end of 2026.

Beijing Arrowhead/Space Epoch (箭元科技公司) has unveiled its VTVL test vehicle (1st stage of XZY-1 launch vehicle). The company plans to use it to conduct a sub-orbital flight with ocean splashdown and towed recovery in the second half of this year.

 

[by78]

I just stumbled on yet another propellant tank supplier today:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

.

Like Jianyuan and LightYear, R.Space also focuses on supplying propellant tanks to launch providers. It has just completed the first phase of its production plant located next to the Oriental Spaceport in Yantai, Shandong. The plant now has the capacity for making more than 30 propellant tanks per year. The company is currently focusing on improving production efficiency of stainless steel tanks as well as on R&D of composite tanks.

More images of R.Space propellant tank products.

 

[by78]

The Haiyang Oriental Spaceport (海阳东方航天港) has

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

for 2024, marking the beginning of 'normal operational phase' since the spaceport's completion.

The Haiyang Oriental Spaceport (海阳东方航天港) has more than a dozen launches planned for 2024, with three having already been completed.

 

[by78]

The city of Beijing will

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

to serve the commercial space industry. The base is located in the southwest suburb of Yizhuang (亦庄) and will occupy 140,000 square meters. Also being established in Yizhuang is the Beijing Reusable Rocket Technology Innovation Center (third image).

The city of Beijing has

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

the construction of the Yizhuang R&D and manufacturing base for commercial space industry.

 

[by78]

A video of the intelligent satellite factory built by the 5th academy of CASC. The highly automated facility is located in Tianjin and occupies a floor area of 4,000 sqm.

 

[by78]

Nice images taken by external cameras of the Chinese space station.

 

[by78]