China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

(Continued from last post...)

Tianbing's dedicated launchpad for Tianlong-3:

LandSpace's dedicated launchpad for Zhuque-3:

Launchpad for the Long March 10 Moon rocket (image taken in January, 2025):

 

[eric7]

Rumor says that at Space Pioneer's site in Gongyi, Henan, a certain engine test is going to happen soon.

 

[tamsen_ikard]

OneSpace has introduced a containerized mobile (solid) rocket launch platform. Launch preparations can be carried out in as little as 30 minutes. A major use case is the rapid launch of communication and surveillance satellites over areas of natural disaster.

I see huge wartime potential in a superpower war, if existing military sats are jammed or destroyed. Launch one quickly, achieve objective, then its likely also destroyed but it has done its part.

 

[by78]

The Shenzhou-20 crew carried out their 4th spacewalk. It lasted six hours, during which two taikonauts carried out inspections and installed additional debris protection on the exterior of the space station.

 

[by78]

Two images of LandSpace engine assembly facility where its Tianque (TQ) series of engines are produced.

 

[ThatNiceType055]

Wow...that was fast. Seems they will soon overtake even Qianfan satellite constellation who has been severly delayed recently, not sure when they will be back on track again. How many satellites does Geespace intend to launch for this constallation in total?
Plus do you know when next Guowang next satellite will be launch? It will soon be a month when they last launched, they seem to have been accelerating their launch schedule recently, so i thought they will keep it up for the rest of the year.

GeeSpace satellites are much smaller than the Qianfan satellites, GW satellites are the heaviest. Geespace ones are microsatellites, only around 100kg each. Qianfan ones are around 300kg each, GW ones are over 1000kg each (could be around 1500kg).

 

[tiancai8888]

Rumor says that at Space Pioneer's site in Gongyi, Henan, a certain engine test is going to happen soon.

Possible the second stage static fire test of the Tianlong-3

 

[by78]

China launched the Fengyun-3 08 meterological satellite early today using a Long March 4B. The satellite will be used to monitor global greenhouse gas emissions. This was the 596th flight of the Long March series.

 

[by78]

A few slides on the upcoming Chang'e-8 mission (planned for 2028). One of the rovers appears to have a humanoid robot mounted on top, not sure if that's actually the case. Of further interest, some 200kg of payload capacity is reserved for equipment from international partners, the selection process for which is almost finished. It's expected that some 10 foreign partners will be chosen. Finally, the lander now features a crane for deploying the rovers and other equipment such as seismometer onto the lunar surface. The crane eliminates the need for separate deployment mechanisms for these payloads.

More specific information on Chang'e-8's international payload. Turkey is partnering with Zhejiang University and Hangzhou Star Vision to deliver two artificially intelligent robotic rovers. Previously, Pakistan has also announced that it intends to deliver a rover for the Chang'e-8 mission.

 

[by78]

Two more high-resolution images from the Fengyun-3 08 launch earlier today.