China's Space Program Thread II

[Blitzo]

LM no more. Correct notation is CZ which is designated on the rockets.

They are used interchangeably.

Long March = Chang Zheng

There was never any particular milestone when LM was "replaced" by CZ, they were always both used.

Just curious what are the specs for LM-12A and LM-12B.

It's not fully clear yet.

I've seen that LM-12A may use 7x Longyun engines on the first stage, and LM-12B may use 9x YF-102R engines on the first stage, with a 3.8m and 4.2m diameter respectively.

 

[SanWenYu]

The CZ12 rocket launched on November 30 burned kerosene made from coal. On the Zhuhai air show concluded recently, the manufacturer secured a deal worth 380 million yuans to supply coal based kerosene to the Hainan Commercial Aerospace Launch Facility.

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据微信公众号“中国航天科技集团六院”消息，11月30日22时25分，航天科技集团六院165所牵头联合国家能源集团神华煤制油公司、宁夏煤业公司研制开发的煤基航天煤油，成功助力长征十二号运载火箭顺利首飞！这也是长征系列运载火箭首次使用煤基航天煤油飞天，长征烧“煤”的梦想成为现实。

区别于传统的石油基航天煤油，煤基航天煤油解决了航天煤油原料来源过于单一的历史难题，符合我国“富煤贫油”的能源现状，有力保障国家航天能源战略安全，比冲性能、产品一致性和稳定性良好。

作为我国唯一的煤基航天煤油生产制造单位，165所具备高性能燃料的研制生产能力，拥有3项标准、4项关键技术、5项国防专利。近年来，该所大力开拓煤基航天煤油商业航天市场，提升运输效率，更为便捷地抵达用户所在地，更好地保障航天燃料供给。

165所领导班子高度重视高性能燃料的研制应用推广，在不久前结束的珠海航展上，所长韩明亲自带队，与海南商业航天发射场就煤基航天煤油供应达成约3.8亿元合约。

 

[by78]

More high-resolution images from the maiden flight of Long March 12.

 

[by78]

A Long March 12 inside the Sanping test complex at the Hainan Commercial Spaceport.

More interior images of the Sanping complex.

 

[by78]

Mr. Shou Junming, director of Launch Services,

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that Hainan Commercial Spaceport has an annual capacity for 32 launches. Further expansions are in the works, with a focus on heavy launch vehicles, at-sea recovery of reusable launch vehicles, and space tourism, among other areas.

 

[by78]

LandSpace gave a presentation at industry event where it gave a first peek at the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) reusable rocket. Expendable version has a payload capacity (to LEO?) of ≥20 tons; reusable version has a payload capacity of ≥16.5 tons (when landing at pre-designated landing zones/on recovery ship) or ≥11 tons (when landing back at launch site).

Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3) LOX/Methane launch vehicle will come in two variants (base variant and improved variant).

Base variant:
– Takeoff mass: 550 tons
– Capacity to LEO (single-use, reusable): 11.8 tons, 8 tons
– 1st stage powered by nine TQ-12A engines, upper stage by one TQ-15A.

Improved variant:
– Takeoff mass: 654.5 tons
– Capacity to LEO: 21.3 tons (single use), 18.3 tons (reusable, landing away from launch site), 12.5 tons (reusable, returning to launch site)
– 1st stage powered by nine TQ-12B engines, upper stage by one TQ-15B.

 

[Taiban]

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China’s Different Approach to Space Situational Awareness

Published Dec. 2, 2024
China Aerospace Studies Institute

This report attempts to answer two questions. First, what do Chinese authors writing in Chinese and English reveal about domestic satellites supporting space situational awareness (SSA). Second, given the available open-source information, in what ways does China’s approach to conducting space-based SSA differ from that of the United States.

This report identified at least ten spacecraft Chinese researchers have used for space-based SSA. Another eight inferred satellites are included based on Chinese discussion of their orbits or sensors. Among the known SSA satellites are two which are developed, owned, and operated by Chinese mixed-ownership enterprises. In the sections that follow, the reader can find all the satellites in Table 2, and descriptions in aggregate and in detail. This review covered previously or currently on-orbit satellites, not plans for future systems.

This report finds three significant differences between China’s and the U.S.’s approach to space-based SSA. China has a different approach to space-based SSA architectures, different priorities for their placement in orbit, and a different rationale for enabling autonomous decision-making on satellites equipped with SSA sensors.

 

[by78]

High-resolution images from the successful launch of Communications Technology Test Satellite 13 (通信技术试验卫星十三号), which was carried out by a Long March 3B. This marks the 549th flight of the Long March series.

 

[by78]

The deputy general manager of i-Space (a.k.a Space Honor, Interstellar Glory, StarCraft Glory, Star Glory, Interstellar Glory Space Technology, Interplanetary Glory, Interplanetary Glory Space Technology, etc., etc., etc.)

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that the maiden launch of Hyperbola-3 will take place sometime in 2025. The maiden flight notably will also carry out 1st-stage recovery. Ambitious indeed, but judging by its meager success record, I'm not keeping my hopes up.

More ambitious pronouncements regarding the Hyperbola-3. An orbital launch and recovery test will be conducted by the end of 2025. Maiden launch and recovery mission is set for 2026. Will reach a launch rate of 25 per year by 2030.

 

[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.

Li Jun, chairman of CASC's commercial satellite arm,

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that the new Tianjin facility has an annual production capacity of more than 100 satellites and has produced about 30 satellites this year. CASC's second satellite production facility (located in Wenchang) will become operational in 2025 and has an annual capacity of 1,000 satellites.