China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

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, it intends to build a space tourism park where 10 reusable Lijian-3 launch vehicles will work in shifts to send tourists to space. Each spacecraft is capable of carrying seven passengers and features four large portholes for viewing.

Zhongke/CAS Space suborbital manned spacecraft is named Lihong (力鸿). First manned flight is expected in 2028. Ticket price is between two and three million RMB.

More information on CAS Space/Zhongke's suborbital space tourism efforts:
– Zhongke plans to carry out a verification flight of a prototype Lihong-1 spacecraft this year. The unmanned spacecraft will carry microgravity experiments.
– From 2026 to 2027, carry out a sub-orbital (100km) test flight, verify parachute recovery and reverse thrusters of Lihong-1 prototype. Carry out a 100km-level launch of a prototype Lihong-2 spacecraft.

Lihong-2 specs:
– Length: 20m
– Diameter: 3.35m
– Takeoff weight: 72 tons
– Engine thrust: 4×240 kN
– Thrust adjustment range: 50-100%
– Ignition times: 3
– Payload (experiments only): 3 tons
– Number of passengers: 7
– Reusability: 20 times

 

[madhusudan.tim]

A tidbit a CASC academician on China's private launch providers. According to an incomplete count, there are 35 companies in the private launch industry.

Why does it look like there are 9 engines on the CZ-10 rocket? Meant to have 7 right?

 

[supercat]

From SCMP:

China in bid to challenge SpaceX by deploying maglev rocket launch pad by 2028​

Advances in rocket acceleration to supersonic speeds before ignition are part of plan to create hub of private rocket manufacture​

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[Kejora]

One obvious advantage of China's LM10 over US' SLS is SLS and Orion's only purpose is for Lunar and Martian Missions, so if they ended up replaced by the more capable Starship all the investment in tooling and launch pads that they have constructed will be wasted. On the other hand, even if the three cored LM10 retired after LM9 becomes operational the single cored LM10A is still useful for LEO mission like sending Astronauts and supplies to space station so the tooling and launch pads they built for LM10 will still be useful to launch further LM10A.

 

[chinois49]

From SCMP:

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And the rocket will be fired by a large cannon. It was the French who invented the technique described in Jules Verne's book "From the Earth to the Moon."
SCMP is not reliable as a source....

 

[nativechicken]

One obvious advantage of China's LM10 over US' SLS is SLS and Orion's only purpose is for Lunar and Martian Missions, so if they ended up replaced by the more capable Starship all the investment in tooling and launch pads that they have constructed will be wasted. On the other hand, even if the three cored LM10 retired after LM9 becomes operational the single cored LM10A is still useful for LEO mission like sending Astronauts and supplies to space station so the tooling and launch pads they built for LM10 will still be useful to launch further LM10A.

The LM10 is a manned launch vehicle. The LM9 is a heavy-lift cargo rocket. There are currently no plans for the LM9 to carry crew—it’s unnecessary for that purpose.

Since the Constellation Program, lunar landing missions have followed a "crew-cargo separation" design philosophy. That’s why the LM10 will never be retired because of the LM9.

 

[by78]

A Long March 3B successfully launched Tianlian-2 04, which is a data relay satellite for China's space program. This marks the 565th flight of the Long March series.

 

[by78]

The next Long March 7A has been moved to launchpad at Wenchang.

 

[by78]

A presentation on a proposed/planned exploration mission to Neptune.
– Timeline: to be launched around 2033, with arrival at Neptune around 2046 to 2048.
– Objectives: orbiting of Neptune, conduct studies on its atmosphere, close flyby of Triton (moon of Neptune).
– Probe weight: < 2,100kg
– Power supply: two radioisotope thermoelectric generators @300W each

 

[by78]

(Continued from last post...)