China's Space Program Thread II

[ENTED64]

Calling LM-12 an expendable version of 12A is a stretch. They are very different rockets. Different engines, different engine configuration, different fuel types, different tanks.
OTOH, the expendable versions of the ZQ-3 and TL-3 will be essentially the same rocket as their reusable counterparts, just that they won't attempt reuse on initial launches.
So the current launches of LM12 doesn't constitute a launch of 12A in an expendable mode any more than ZQ-2 for ZQ-3 and TL-2 for TL-3.

Really? I thought LM-12A was closer to LM-12, in that case I'm kind of surprised they didn't give it a new designation. So I guess they are taking a somewhat more aggressive approach. Although I presume LM-12A is still closer to LM-12 than say ZQ-2 and ZQ-3 so it's something I guess.

Both ZQ-3 & CZ-12A will try to land & recovery the first stage with thier maiden flights. ZQ-3 first stage plan to land onto the landing pad at Minqin, the landing pad was said to completed at end of Aug, should complete by now. CZ-12A plan to launch at Wenchang & landing onto a recovery ship.
In terms of reusability (I mean second launch with an used rocket stage). IMO after a successful recovery. Both rockets need to be disassembled and they have to take time to examine the rocket & to work out a refurbishment plan. SpaceX took a whole year on the F9.
Those two may be faster since they are using methane as fuel which has no coking problem.

Interesting, I didn't realize ZQ-3 was going for recovery on first flight, I could have sworn I read that the first few flights were going to be expendable like TL-3. I guess it is a race then.

 

[huemens]

Although I presume LM-12A is still closer to LM-12 than say ZQ-2 and ZQ-3 so it's something I guess.

The booster diameter is the same for LM-12 and LM-12A, which is a new size for China. LM-12 uses YF-100k engines which were developed for LM-10.
So, LM-12 could just be an interim platform to test the new booster size (for 12A) and new YF-100k engines (for LM-10).

 

[tiancai8888]

Interesting, I didn't realize ZQ-3 was going for recovery on first flight, I could have sworn I read that the first few flights were going to be expendable like TL-3. I guess it is a race then.

Yes the chief engineer of ZQ-3 Dai Zheng said during a CCTV interview after the ZQ-3 second VTVL test.


And the CZ-12B is more of the descendant of the CZ-12.