China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

A lunar research station

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from the 8th Academy of CASC and Beihang University.

The layout is 2+1: two permanent capsules (laboratory and habitat) + one mobile laboratory. Auxiliary components/installations include a cargo/transport platform, a solar generator, and a nuclear generator (40kW). The station can support a crew of two (or more) for up to 55 days. Most of the time, the station is to operate in unmanned mode.

Construction of the station is to be carried out in six missions (three unmanned and three manned). The mobile laboratory (capable of supporting taikonauts for long durations) is to be sent to the moon first, where it will be used for survey and site selection/preparation.

The station is to be supplied twice a year and has a design life of ≥10 years.

 

[by78]

(Continued from last post...)

 

[by78]

Some images of headquarters of Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co.

 

[by78]

Siwei Surveying and Mapping Technology Co.

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with Baidu Maps. Siwei will provide Baidu with remote sensing data to help Baidu build the next generation of digital map services.

 

[by78]

Beijing-3 optical remote sensing satellites (launched on May 20th) are capable of a resolution of 30cm.

 

[by78]

The maiden flight of Galactic Energy's Pallas-1 rocket will take place at the end of 2024, according to Mr. Xing Boqiang (邢柏强), director of propulsion systems manufacturing. The company is currently making final optimizations to the propulsion system and will soon carry out fairing separation and vibration tests in preparation for the maiden launch.

Galactic Energy has successfully carried out fairing separation tests for the Pallas-1 rocket in preparation for its maiden launch.

 

[taxiya]

(Continued from last post...)

Very good article. Something can be deduced.

1. The habitat and working modules are capable to support 2 people 40 days on the surface. The digrams show that they are 5 meters in diameter and slightly longer than 5 meters. This is essentially capability of Tiangong-1/2 (two people 30 days). Tiangong was 3.35 x 10 meters, so the moon base modules are larger in volume than Tiangong, therefor heavier. Tiangong was more than 8 tonnes, so I expect moon module being close to 10 tonnes.
2. Apollo's surface habitation cabin is the ascenter module, it does not have airlock, no toilet, no kitchenet and no sleeping quaters etc. That still weights 5 tonnes even considering the fuel tank and engine. An environment described in the article can only be far more heavier than 5 tonnes. This is another reason that I believe 10 tonnes is the mass of the moon base module.
3. Apollo's TLI is around 50 tonnes, the lander+ascenter wet mass is 15 tonnes, one way payload mass is the wet mass of acenter + astranauts at 5 tonnes. This gives a useful surface payload mass to TLI ratio of 1/10. Considerring the rocket engine and fuel tech hasn't changed, future Chinese moon landing should have the same ratio. This gives 100 tonnes LTO (Chinese term for TLI) mass. If they manage to reduce the mass than Tiangong while keeping the capability, the module would still be somewhere around 8 tonnes, which means LTO 80 tonnes.

Conclusions:

1. These modules are to be launched by CZ-9. Yes, it is a given needless to prove.
2. CZ-9's LTO is far beyond the 50(53) tonnes figure in various ppts. I remember hearing from other Chinese forumes saying the actual capacity is above 70 tonnes. This figure would be very close to my deduction above.

A lot of people was wonderring why CZ-9 using all the same tech (FFSC 200t methane engine) as Starship or even better (LOX/LH2 3rd stage) seem to have a worse performance, and people reach the conclusion that it must be China being far behind. But I think it is just Chinese industry don't care of impressing onlookers with ppt but focusing to get things done.

 

[by78]

The first batch of 18 satellites of the G60 LEO broadband constellation is

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.

Second batch of satellites of the G60 LEO broadband constellation has passed factory quality checks.

 

[by78]

Zhongke's resuable Liqing-1 and Liqing-2 engines (thrust specs upgraded to 30 tons and 110 tons, respectively),

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.

Zhongke has successfully carried out several tests of the gas generator intended for the upgraded Liqing-2 engine.

 

[by78]

I just stumbled on yet another propellant tank supplier today:

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.

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.

R.Space is actively pursuing 3D printing for propellant tank components. It recently completed its first 3D printed aluminum propellant tank bulkhead.

https://imgur.com/a/Cin6aBI