by78
General
A model of the recovery barge and tower for the reusable 1st stage of Long March 10A.
A few more images of the display model of the recovery barge for the reusable Long March 10A.
China's Space Program Thread II
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
A few more images of the display model of the recovery barge for the reusable Long March 10A.
as an option
CZ-12: 4 x YF100 & 2 x YF-115 /3.8 m, kerolox
CZ-12A: 7 Longyun /3.8 m, methalox
CZ-12B: 9 YF-102R /4.2 m, kerolox
by78
General
Models of Long March 12 and reusable Long March 12B launch vehicles, the latter of which is under active development. The second image shows a slide presented by CASC on a certain new reusable rocket in the 4-meter-diameter class. I think it's referring to the Long March 12B. If so, 12B is a bit thicker than 12, which has a diameter of 3.8m
A better image of the scale models of Long March 12 and the reusable Long March 12A.
by78
General
Here's the completed stainless steel propellant tank fabricated using LightYear's proprietary bulge-forming process. It has a diameter of 3.8m, a length of 14.6m, a volume of 158 cubic meters, and a total weight of 3400kg. The wall thickness is as little as 1.52mm. It will be exhibited at this year's Zhuhai Airshow.
The propellant tank is being exhibited at Zhuhai Airshow.
by78
General
The Honghu satellites launched on December 9th featured Hall thrusters using krypton propellant. The thrusters were successful ignited at 6:49AM on December 26, Beijing Time, marking the first time that China has achieved on-orbit operation of Hall thrusters using Krypton propellant. The Hall thrusters (Model SW-200) were developed by Hongqing Technology (鸿擎科技).
This is a surprise to me. Hongqing Technology, which I knew only as a maker of Hall thrusters, has exhibited a certain flatpack satellite design; and furthermore, the satellites are packed inside the fairing of a LandSpace Zhuque-2 rocket.
by78
General
This is a pretty big deal. Tianhui Aerospace has successfully completed a partial system test run of the 100-ton reusable mixed cycle ( + ) RedDragon-1 engine (红龙一号). The full system hot run will take place later this year.
Tianhui has successfully completed the second full-system ignition test of its 85-ton LOX/Kerosene Qiaolong-1 (巧龙一号) engine.
Tianhui's booth at Zhuhai Airshow, where the company showed off scale models of its three engines.
That makes the 3 of us. I actually noticed a very similar rod/protrusion device on the bottom of Shenzhou return capsules as well
by78
General
My speculation/guess: these rods were pulled out by the ground crew after the covers have been unbolted, probably to adjust/shutdown some onboard electrical/mechanical/pneumatic systems, maybe?
Or they are antennas for location beacon and communication for rescure teams, I guess.
Maybe, they're pressure switches that get pushed into the capsule to automatically activate onboard locator beacon(s), flotation devices, whatever survival equipment in case of crew incapacitation upon landing/reentry?