Artykuły o Chinese space program

[Orionid]

Shuguang (Project 714)
23 August 2017



China’s human spaceflight plan initiated in 1971 using a two-seater capsule vehicle named Shuguang (‘dawn’). Plan abandoned in the late 1970s.

History

Shortly after the Soviet Union launched the world’s first artificial earth satellite Sputnik 1 into orbit in October 1957, Chairman Mao Zedong announced in early 1958 that China would also follow suit to launch its own satellite. A space programme (Project 581) was created within the scientific community and the missile industry to develop a satellite and its launch vehicle. The Chinese military also secretively selected potential candidates to receive training for human spaceflight.

After Project 581 was abandoned in early 1959 due economic hardship, a small team was retained to continue with the space research using sounding rockets for suborbital flights. In 1963, the Institute of Biophysics of the China Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed the use of the two-stage T-7A sounding rocket for biological and high-altitude medical research. Shanghai Institute of Machinery and Electronics (SIME), the developer of the T-7A, modified the rocket’s payload compartment into a pressurised capsule, equipped with onboard camera, oxygen supply, and electrocardiogram telemetry systems.

On 19 July 1964, a T-7A-I biology rocket carrying a group of white laboratory rates was launched from the Guangde Launch Site to an altitude of 70 km. The rats were then returned to Earth alive. This was followed by two more successful suborbital flights also carrying white laboratory rats in June 1965.

In October 1965, the Institute of Biophysics proposed further suborbital flights carrying more advanced animals. SIME made further modifications to the T-7A rocket, including an enlarged 600 mm-diameter payload nosecone and improved tracking and telemetry systems. The rocket also carried additional propellants, increasing its take-off weight to 1,325 kg.

On 14 July 1966, a T-7A-II biology sounding rocket was launched, carrying China’s first space dog Xiao Bao (“Little Leopard”). The dog was selected from a pool of 30 experimental dogs through a strict training and screening process, and was trained to accept confinement, spacesuit, noise, vibration and physiological sensors. The rocket reached an altitude of 100 km, before returning the passenger capsule safely to Earth. Two weeks later a second launch was conducted on 28 July, sending space dog Shan Shan into space and then safely returning to Earth.

In August 1966, the Institute of Biophysics and SIME began the preparation for follow-on missions to send monkeys into space. However, the project was soon disrupted by the political turmoil of the Cultural Revolution that began in the same year. With the scientists and engineers working on the biology sounding rocket programme denounced and even persecuted, the space monkey mission was soon abandoned.

Planning

By the mid-1960s, China had recovered from its three years of economic hardship and the space plan was also revived. From 1966, the Chinese military, defence industry, and scientific community began to draft a ten-year plan for the development of satellites in the period of 1966—75. In March 1966, the National Defence Science & Technology Commission (NDSTC), which oversaw China’s strategic weapon programme, hosted a closed session conference in the military-run Jingxi Hotel in Beijing. The purpose of the conference was to develop the concept for a manned space mission. A working group was set up during the conference to include:

– Cai Qiao, Vice Director of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences;
– Bei Shizhang, Director of the Institute of Biophysics of the China Academy of Sciences;
– Shen Qizhen, Director of the China Academy of Medical Sciences.

After 20 days of intensive debates, the working group came up with a high-level plan, including the launch of biological satellites or sounding rockets carrying animals to test the effects of microgravity and space radiations on humans.

The discussions then went to wider audience. During a conference in May 1966 to discuss China’s 10-year satellite development plan, Jia Siguang (Academy of Military Medicine) delivered a presentation on the purposes of manned spacecraft. Xu Liancang (Institute of Psychology of the China Academy of Sciences) presented a plan for developing the manned spacecraft.

The ten-year satellite development plan envisaged a three-step roadmap:

– To use scientific experimental satellites to validate the various technologies;
– To further develop application satellites for Earth-observation, communications, missile early warning, navigation, and nuclear test detection roles;
– To develop a manned capsule based on the recoverable satellite technology;

Astronaut Selection

Under the suggestion of Dr Qian Xuesen, the founding father of China’s missile and rocket research, the Institute of Cosmos Medicine & Engineering Research (507 Institute) was formed on 1 April 1968 out of the Institute of Biophysics of the China Academy of Sciences, Unit 236 of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and the Military Work Physiology Research Institute of the PLA Academy of Military Medicine. Primary responsibilities of the institute included conducting researches in space medicine and organising astronaut selection and training.

In October 1970, the PLA formed a selection committee responsible for recruiting astronauts. The committee first worked with the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) to identify potential candidates from fighter jet pilots in active service. The pilots were screened for their physical conditions such as age, height, weight, medical history, service history and performance, as well as their political loyalty and family background. Out of the 1,918 pilots regarded as qualified, 88 were picked for further detailed medical examinations in Beijing beginning in January 1971.

The selection process lasted for several months and was conducted in extreme secrecy. The pilots were housed in the PLAAF General Hospital in complete isolation, with no contact with the outside or their families allowed. Even the pilots themselves were not told about the real purpose of the selection process, with many believing they were selected for flying an advanced fighter jet. The candidates were eliminated one by one through ten formal screening steps. Eventually 19 candidates were chosen to join the Astronaut Training Group.

Shuguang 1

Under the instruction of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry (Ministry of Missile Industry), in March 1967 the Shanghai-based 8th Academy formed a team led by Wang Xiji to develop a manned capsule. In September of the same year, Wang and his team drew up the concept of a one-man capsule based on the FSW (Fanhui Shi Weixing) recoverable satellite. However, the design was vetoed by the Vice Minister of the Seventh Ministry Qian Xuesen on the basis that the one-man crew arrangement glorified ‘individual heroism’ — something unpalatable under the political climate of the time. Wang’s team went back to the drawing board and produced four revised designs with one, two, three, and five crew members. Qian also named the manned capsule Shuguang (“Dawn”).

In 1968, the Shuguang development programme was transferred to the 501 System Design Department of the newly formed China Academy of Space Technology (CAST, or 5th Academy). However, as the design department devoted most of its resources to the development of the Dong Fang Hong 1 satellite, little progress was made on the manned capsule over the next two years.

In November 1970, seven months after the launch of Dong Fang Hong 1, the NDSTC and Seventh Ministry hosted a conference to discuss the plan for the follow-on missions. CAST presented the design proposal for Shuguang 1, a two-man capsule capable of flying in low Earth orbit for up to eight days. A full-scale mock-up of the capsule was also displayed during the conference.

Shuguang 1 was similar in size and design to the U.S. Gemini vehicle. The spacecraft consisted of two parts — a habitable Crew Module at front and a Service Module at back. The Crew Module, also serving as the re-entry capsule, contained the pressurised crew compartment with two ejection seats and a control panel. In front of them was an equipment compartment housing the various flight instruments, radio equipment, the parachute and four retrofire rockets. The crew could control the vehicle using a control sticker handle. The aft Service Module would accommodate the orientation rocket engine, propellant tanks, batteries and communication antennas.

For re-entry, Shuguang 1 would need to first jettison its Service Module and then make an unpowered descent through the atmosphere, before lowering its velocity to an acceptable level using its parachute. The two crewmembers would then use their ejection seats to bail out the capsule for landing.

Project 714

In April 1971, the Chinese political leadership officially approved the human spaceflight plan (Project 714), including the development of the two-seat Shuguang space capsule and the astronaut training programme. The plan was targeted to launch an unmanned flight test in 1972, followed by a crewed mission in 1973. The space capsule was to be launched atop a large launch vehicle derived from the Dong Feng-6 (DF-6) ICBM, which was still under development at the time. In the same month, over 400 space professionals and officials from 80 research institutions across the country gathered in Beijing to finalise the details of all aspects of the crewed mission. Research projects including spacecraft materials and heat protection kicked off in the following month.

On 13 May, the PLAAF activated a 500-man unit headed by Xue Lun (Commander of the 24th Air Division) to provide support for astronaut training. The unit headquarters, known as Project 714 Office, was situated inside Building No.49 of the Air Force College. The 19 astronaut candidates were asked to report to the office no later than November to commence a two-year training programme. In the next few months, Xue and his team rushed to build training facilities and develop training plans.

In August 1971, construction work began in the mountains near Xichang, Sichuang Province in central China for a new missile and space launch facility to support the manned spaceflight mission. The site is situated on 28°N latitude, much closer to the Equator than the existing launch site at Jiuquan (42°N), in order to gain maximum payload advantage from the Earth’s rotation speed.

However, an unexpected turn came on 13 September 1971, when China’s No.2 political figure and the chosen heir to Chairman Mao, the Defence Minister Lin Biao, fled the country and died in a plan crash in Mongolia en-route to the Soviet Union, following an alleged unsuccessful coup to overthrow Mao. Soon China descended into political chaos once again, with a large-scale investigation launched to cleanse Lin’s supporters within the military apparatus. Xue Lun and other members of Office 714 were detained for sustained interrogation that lasted for nearly a year.

The ‘September 13 Incident’ also put the crewed space mission on an abrupt halt. The 19 chosen pilots reported to the 714 Office in November as required but could not begin their training. By late 1971, the Astronaut Training Group was disbanded and the pilots returned to their original units. Construction of the new launch site at Xichang was also on a standstill, while the 12,000 engineering troops waited for new instruction from Beijing.

At the same time, the Shuguang 1 development had also encountered enormous technical and financial difficulties, with little progress being made since the launch of the programme in early 1971. The cancellation of the DF-6 development in 1972 was another major blow, leaving the manned capsule with no launch vehicle to fly on. Half of the Shuguang 1’s design team were reassigned to the Shijian 2 satellite project. By late 1973 the development became unsustainable and the programme manager had no choice but to release his staff. Soon there was only one person left in the entire design team.

On 23 October 1974, the Seventh Ministry and the NDSTC jointly reported to the political leadership on the status of the crewed space mission. Heads of the two agencies admitted that little progress had been made since the programme began in 1970, and called for ‘necessary adjustment’ by postponing the first launch of the space capsule to the late 1970s.

Unlike its grand launch in 1970, there was no definitive ending to Project 714. Since the project was personally approved by Chairman Mao, nobody would dare to ask it to be cancelled. The programme simply died out after its funding and resource allocation had been switched off. Despite an ambitious plan, China simply did not have the economic strength, industrial capabilities, or political climate to support a coherent human spaceflight programme. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai was later quoted saying that China shouldn’t join the Soviet Union and United States in their space race, and that the country should focus on things on Earth first.

Aftermath

Despite the unsuccessful Project 714, many in the Chinese scientific community and space industry never gave up the hope to send Chinese astronaut into orbit. On 26 November 1975, a Long March 2 launcher taking off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) successfully placed a FSW recoverable remote-sensing satellite into a 173 x 483 km low Earth orbit. After orbiting the Earth 47 times in three days, the satellite returned to Earth with its capsule successfully recovered.

The success in recovering the satellite triggered a fresh round of speculations about a possible Chinese manned mission. A human capsule was viewed by many as a natural technological next step to the FSW satellite. The re-entry module of the FSW satellite was capable of carrying 260 kg recoverable payload, enough to accommodate a single astronaut and his life-supporting equipment. The FSW mission also demonstrated a credible capability to track and control spacecraft through ground stations. In fact, Chinese newspaper Guangming Ribao described the launch of FSW satellite as the first step towards human spaceflight.

Space professionals who worked on the Shuguang 1 project were encouraged by the success in the FSW satellite programme, hoping it would lead to a revival of the manned spaceflight programme. However, their hope soon faded when the Chinese de facto leader Deng Xiaoping told officials of the Seventh Ministry in August 1978 that China was still a developing country and should not be taking part in the space race. Instead, the limited resources should be concentrated on urgently needed application satellites.

By the late 1970s, China’s space programme was scaled down with a new, much more modest goal of developing the various application satellites for both military and civilian uses. The country’s space budget was also trimmed accordingly so that more resources and funding could be freed up for economic development. China would have to wait for another three decades before the first Chinese astronaut flew in space.

Source: http://sinodefence.com/shuguang-project-714/

[Orionid]

Shenzhou Programme (Project 921)
25 August 2017 [sinodefence.com]



China officially embarked on a human spaceflight programme (Project 921) in 1992, with the goal of constructing a permanently-occupied space station on Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The first phase of the programme run between 1992 and 2005, with the objective of developing a crewed spacecraft vehicle that can carry astronauts to orbit and then return them to Earth safely. On 15 October 2003, China’s first astronaut Yang Liwei flew on the Shenzhou 5 mission, making China the third country in the world, after Russia and the United States, to be capable of sending human into space independently.

Source: http://sinodefence.com/shenzhou-project-921/

921 Project Shenzhou
China and Piloted Space Programs



China's space station, which was expected to debut around 2020, may become humanities's only foothold in space when the International Space Station retires in 2024 the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). With the space station, Chinese sources claoim "China will become the second country after the former Soviet Union to have developed a space station with its own efforts" ignoring American programs. China's astronauts, all selected from commissioned pilots of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, are mainly responsible for operating spacecraft, according to Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program. "In the future, we need astronauts from different backgrounds, engineers and scientists in particular, because we will carry out scientific experiments in the space station," Zhou said.

Since the late 1970's the PRC had seriously planned for the eventual flight of Chinese astronauts, but by the early 1990s shifting program priorities resulted in only preliminary work in the areas of spacecraft design and space medicine. Small teams of Chinese had undergone some astronaut training, and designs for manned spacecraft ranging from simple capsules to space shuttles to space stations had all been drawn up. A 1978 decision to embark on a Chinese manned space program was short-lived, although astronaut training and space suit design were initiated (References 66-70).

The 1984 prospect of a Chinese astronaut flying on the US Space Shuttle never materialized (Reference 65). By the mid-1980's PRC began to talk about building a manned Chinese space station in apparent competition with the US and the USSR programs (References 71-76). Although discussions of sophisticated space shuttles were offered, the near-term goal appeared to be a Gemini-class capsule launched by an expendable booster with a crew of 2-4 astronauts.

In 1994 the PRC held discussions with Russian aerospace officials for the purpose of acquiring Soyuz technology to be adapted to a Chinese recoverable capsule for launch by a CZ-2E booster, perhaps as early as the year 2002. The launch site may be a new facility reported in 1992 to be under construction 200 km from Jiuquan (References 77-82). It was later reported that the new manned launch infrastructure was to be finished in 1997 with the CZ-2F booster facilities systems test vehicles being run out to the new pad in May 1998. In 1999 imagery from those roll out infrastructure test were released publicly. In 1992, China developed an ambitious three-step strategy for a manned space program.

1. In the first phase, unmanned and later manned space vehicles will be put into space for astronauts to conduct scientific experiments and surveys from within the capsule while in orbit. The first step, to send an astronaut into space and return safely, was fulfilled by Yang Liwei in the Shenzhou-5 mission in 2003.

2. The second step was developing advanced space flight techniques and technologies including extra-vehicular activity and orbital docking. This phase also included the launch of two space laboratories -- effectively mini space-stations that could be manned on a temporary basis. In the second phase, astronauts will conduct spacewalk's for the purpose of research, and space stations that operate on their own for most of the time and only need to be taken care of for a brief period of time will be created and launched into space.

3. The next step will be to assemble and operate a permanent manned space station. In the third phase, larger space stations with the ability to house astronauts for longer periods of time will be built.

In early 1999 the first piloted Chinese spaceflight was widely anticipated to be attempted in October 1999, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People"s Republic. On 18 March 1998 Ma Xingrui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) stated (Reference 159) that:

"China is striving to make breakthroughs in manned space flight technology at the end of this century or the beginning of the next century, and will launch small lunar explorer when possible,"

Two Chinese astronauts, Wu Jie and Li Qinglong [also transliterated as Wu Tse and Li Tsinlung], participated in a two-year training program at the Russian Yuri Gagarin Center beginning in November 1996. And work on a recoverable 20-ton spacecraft at the Shanghai Academy of Space Technology is said to be nearing completion (Reference 160). Work under the code name "Project 921" was reported to envision two unmanned test flights in for 1998. As with the Russian the Soyuz the Chinese spacecraft will include a reentry capsule and an orbital life module, but unlike Soyuz it does not include an approach and docking system (Reference 161).

In August 1999 Wang Xingqing, general designer with the Chinese Academy of Launch-Vehicle Technology, stated that that first Chinese human space flight would take place around 2005. In June 1999 images purporting to be those of a version of China's Long March booster capable of launching a piloted spacecraft were made public. While some "enhancement" may have taken place, there was evidently some basis in truth of these images of the Long March 2F. Close study of the LM-2F design revealed that the telemetery and command and control antenna's had been rearranged from the original design seen on the LM-2E booster arrangement in addition to other upgrading's design changes up rating the booster performance.

According to the China National Space Administration or CNSA, China’s Space Program consists of three stages. Phase 1 was the launch of a manned spacecraft that will execute various space experiments. The Shenzhou 5 and 6 completed this stage’s mission.

The launch of a space laboratory marked Phase 2 of the program. One of the missions during this stage will be the docking of a manned spacecraft and space lab, which was a prototype of China’s ultimate space station to carry out experiments. Shenzhou 7 was the third human spaceflight, which included the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity or EVA, a milestone during this phase. The launch of the Tiangong Space Lab and Shenzhou 8 to 10 Spacecraft was expected to complete the rest of the second phase missions, which paves the way for China’s ultimate goal of constructing a space station. Its operation was part of Phase 3, which will take place in the future.

Tiangong-1 was the first Chinese space laboratory module. It was intended as an experimental testbed to develop rendezvous and docking capabilities needed to support a larger space station complex. Tiangong-1 was expected to be visited by three Shenzhou missions during its operational lifetime: the unmanned Shenzhou 8 in 2011, and the manned Shenzhou 9 and 10 in 2012.

After spending approximately two years in orbit, Tiangong-1 would return to earth in 2013. It would be replaced over the following decade by the larger Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 modules, which would conduct more sophisticated space experiments and probes. Tiangong 2 would fulfill various experiments, introduce new technologies, and possibly develop space medicine. The full-size, multi-module Tiangong 3 space station would have astronauts stationed inside. The station would be supplied by cargo spacecraft.

China will complete the second step of its three-phase development strategy for its manned space program by establishing its own space lab around 2016, a spokeswoman for China's manned space program said 03 November 2011. China's manned space program office said in June 2013 the country planned to launch the Tiangong 2 space lab around 2015. The engineering work was being carried out. Tiangong-2 will be made of larger modules. A core module similar to the Mir Core (or Zvezda), but slightly larger, with a 5-port node on one end and two lab modules. The Tiangong-1 design will be reused and repurposed as a supply vehicle for Tiangong-2, which is to test the core module that will be used for Tiangong-3, which should end up being the modular station. Tiangong 1 was really the prototype of the cargo ship for a future, real space station.

CNSA said the Tiangong 3, China’s first full-size space station, would be a realistic and multi-functional station to perform experiments, production, probing and storing, which they believe would produce fruitful results. For example, the space station would have the ability to develop new types of vegetables and fruits or produce new materials in space. China has set a goal of having its space station to be in place by 2020. China planned to put in orbit an experimental space station core module around 2018. The program also calls for a series of cargo and manned spacecraft to deliver material supplies and transport astronauts to the future space lab and space station.

China announced plans 10 September 2014 to build its first space station by 2022 at an annual Association of Space Explorers (ASE) gathering of astronauts held in Beijing. China originally planned to start operating Tiangong 3 two years earlier in 2020. During the meeting China’s first astronaut and Deputy Chief of China Manned Space Agency Yang Liwei announced the plans that will see the space station completed in less than a decade. Yang said the spacecrafts that will be used at the space station, including the Tiangong 2 space lab, Tianzhou cargo spacecraft, and Changzheng 7 carrier rockets are entering their crucial preparation stages. The in-orbit construction of Tiangong 3 was expected to start in 2018 with the launch of the core structures.

An October 2009 CNSA (Chinese National Space Agency) briefing written by Wang Zhonggui (CNSA Manned Space Engineering deputy general designer), Dong Nengli (CNSA Manned Space Engineering Program) and Zhai Zhigang (CNSA Taikonaut) stated: "During the course of the third step of China Manned space flight program, we will conduct manned lunar mission conception study, validate the key technologies, and finally pave the way for manned lunar exploration mission."

China will start a third round of astronaut selection in 2017, an official from the Astronaut Center of China said 18 NOvember 2016. Huang Weifen, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system with the center, made the announcement at a press conference after the Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou-11 mission came to completion. In preparation for the manned space station program, the new selection process will pick candidates from air force pilots, space engineers and technical staff in aerospace-related fields. China has already signed an agreement with the United Nations opening the Chinese Space Station to receive science payload, astronauts and even modules from countries around the world.

Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program, said 18 NOvember 2016 that China's space station will be comprised of a core module and two experimental modules, each weighing about 20 tonnes. It will accommodate three to six astronauts, Zhou added. The core module is expected to be launched around 2018, and the space station will enter into full service around 2022, with an initial designed life of at least 10 years.

Eighteen stand-by astronauts, including one female, were selected 01 October 2020 in China's third selection of stand-by astronauts for the country's manned space flight project. The third selection was launched in May 2018 and finished recently. A total of 2,500 candidates attended the selection. More selections will be held in accordance to the development of China's manned space industry.

The 18 stand-by astronauts include seven pilots, seven engineers and four payload specialists. The latter two are selected for the first time into China's astronaut team in order to meet the requirements of the construction of China's space station. Pilots and engineers will be in charge of operating and managing the spacecraft and conducting technical experiments. The load experts will be responsible for on-orbit operation of scientific experimental payload. Pilots are selected from active pilots serving in the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Engineers are elected from engineering technicians in aerospace or related areas. Load specialists are selected from personnel in the fields of science research and application of manned space engineering.

Source: https://www.globalsecurity.org/space/world/china/piloted.htm#ref66

[Orionid]

Shenzhou
25 August 2017 [sinodefence.com]



Capsule-type, non-reusable spacecraft vehicle designed to carry up to three astronauts for a solo orbital flight of up to 7 days, or to ferry them to the space station and then return them to Earth. It can also be docked to the space station to serve as a ‘lift boat’.

Source: http://sinodefence.com/shenzhou/

[Orionid]

Tiangong 1
 10 September 2017 [sinodefence.com]



Temporarily crew-tended space laboratory module, serving as a ‘target vehicle’ for the perfection of orbital rendezvous and docking, as well as demonstrating short-term orbital living. A total of three expeditions, including an unmanned and two crewed missions, were made to the station during its 2-year orbital life.

- A.k.a.: Target Vehicle
- Type: Crew-tended space laboratory
- Crew size: 3
- Programme: Project 921-II
- Agency: China Manned Space Agency
- Primary contractor: China Academy of Space Technology
- Status: De-orbited
- Launch: 2011-09-29
- Designed life: 2 Years
- Launch vehicle: CZ-2F
- Launch complex: Jiuquan-SLS2
- Re-entry: 2018-04-02

(...)
Source: http://sinodefence.com/tiangong-1/

[Orionid]

Tiangong 2
10 September 2017 [sinodefence.com]



China’s second Space Laboratory module, designed to demonstrate the medium-term orbital living and on-orbit refuelling capabilities, as well as to carry out space science and applications experiments. Launched in September 2016 and visited by the Shenzhou 11 and Tianzhou 1 missions.

Type: Man-tended space laboratory. Crew size: 2. Programme: Project 921-II. Agency: CMSA. Primary contractor: CAST/CASC. Status: Operational. Launch: 2016-09-15. Designed life: 2 Years. Launch vehicle: CZ-2F. Launch complex: Jiuquan–SLS2.

(...)
Source: http://sinodefence.com/tiangong-2/

[Orionid]

Chinese Space Station
10 September 2017 [sinodefence.com]



China’s permanently-occupied, multi-module, Earth-orbiting space station, with a total mass of 60 to 80 tonnes. The core module of the station is scheduled for launch in 2018/19, and the assembly of the whole station is expected to be complete by 2022.

- Type: Earth orbital station
- Crew size: 3 to 6
- Programme: Project 921-III
- Agency: China Manned Space Agency
- Primary contractor: China Academy of Space Technology; Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
- Status: In development
- First launch: exp. 2019
- Designed life: 10 years
- Orbit: 340—450 km LEO, 42.5° inclination
- Mass: 60 to 80 tonnes

(...)
Source: http://sinodefence.com/chinese-space-station/

[Orionid]

Long March-5B rocket enables China to construct space station
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-05 22:08:24|Editor: huaxia


China's new large carrier rocket Long March-5B blasts off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, May 5, 2020. China's new large carrier rocket Long March-5B made its maiden flight Tuesday, sending the trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship and a cargo return capsule for test into space. (Photo by Tu Haichao/Xinhua)

WENCHANG, Hainan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Construction of China's space station moves a step closer with the successful maiden flight of its new large carrier rocket, the Long March-5B, on Tuesday.

(...)
Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/05/c_139032882.htm

[Orionid]

China Focus: Three types of rockets to shoulder construction of China's space station
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-06 08:29:40|Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- After a successful maiden flight, China's Long March-5B carrier rocket joins the Long March-2F and Long March-7 to shoulder the construction of China's space station.

LONG MARCH-2F: CHINA'S SAFEST ROCKET

With a total length of about 58 meters, the Long March-2F has two core stages and four boosters. An escape tower will be installed on top if the rocket is used to launch manned spacecraft.

(...)
Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/06/c_139033824.htm

[Orionid]

China's experimental cargo return capsule operates abnormally during its return
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-06 17:23:10|Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A flexible and inflatable cargo return capsule that China sent into space for test for the first time operated abnormally during its return to the ground on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Aboard the country's new large carrier rocket Long March-5B, the test capsule was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the coast of southern China's island province of Hainan on Tuesday.

Experts are now analyzing the relevant data, the agency said. Enditem

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/06/c_139035288.htm

[Orionid]

China's experimental new-generation manned spaceship works normally in orbit
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-06 21:47:41|Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship is now working normally in orbit, having completed a series of operations as planned, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on Wednesday.

The experimental spaceship was launched without crew by China's new large carrier rocket Long March-5B from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the coast of south China's island province of Hainan on Tuesday evening.

So far, the new spaceship, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology under the CASC, has unfolded its solar panels and positioned them toward the sun, deployed its relay antenna and established a relay communication link, as well as conducted autonomous orbit control four times.

It is now in a stable flight attitude in a highly elliptical orbit, with the power supply, measurements and control links normal, said the CASC.

Next as planned, it will raise orbit three times, and re-enter the atmosphere and return to Earth after braking at the apogee, the CASC said.

It is scheduled to touch down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday, according to Ji Qiming, an assistant to the director of the China Manned Space Agency. Enditem

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/06/c_139035797.htm

[Orionid]

China Focus: China tests 3D printing in space for first time
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-09 16:21:25|Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A "space 3D printer" developed independently by China and two samples it printed in orbit successfully returned to Earth Friday, according to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

They came back in the return capsule of China's new-generation manned spaceship for testing, which was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's island province of Hainan on Tuesday and touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Friday.

(...)
Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/09/c_139043414.htm

[Orionid]

Return capsule of China's experimental manned spaceship comes back successfully
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-08 17:57:27|Editor: huaxia


Staff members pose for a group photo to celebrate the timely finding of the return capsule of the trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship that successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 8, 2020. The return capsule successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site at 1:49 p.m. (Beijing Time) Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

JIUQUAN, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The return capsule of the trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 1:49 p.m. (Beijing Time) Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The test was a complete success, the agency said.



Following the instructions from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, the experimental spaceship applied the brake and entered the return orbit at 12:21 p.m., and its return capsule separated with its service capsule at 1:33 p.m.

After it re-entered the atmosphere and reached the designated altitude, the two deceleration parachutes and three main parachutes on the return capsule opened, slowing the flight speed of the spacecraft to the driving speed of an urban vehicle. Before touching down, its six airbags were deployed and inflated to help it land softly, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).



At 1:49 p.m., the return capsule landed safely. The search team found it in a timely manner and confirmed that the capsule structure was intact.

China launched the trial version of the new spaceship without a crew by the Long March-5B carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's island province of Hainan on Tuesday.

The experimental spaceship flew in orbit for two days and 19 hours, during which it carried out a series of space science and technology experiments, said CMSA.

It also tested key technologies including the heat shielding and control during its re-entry into the atmosphere, as well as multi-parachute recovery and partial reuse, CMSA said.



The new-generation manned spaceship is an advanced space transport vehicle adapted to multiple tasks. It can be used not only in low-Earth orbit missions to support the construction of China's space station but also for deep-space exploration, such as manned lunar exploration, CMSA said.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) under the CASC, the test spaceship is nearly 9 meters tall and about 4.5 meters at its widest point. It weighs more than 20 tonnes.



Different from the three-capsule structure of Shenzhou spaceships currently in use, the new spacecraft comprises a return capsule, which is the command center and the living place for astronauts, and a service capsule, which provides power and energy, according to the CAST.

In Shenzhou spaceships, astronauts have to go back and forth between two smaller capsules for life and work. The return capsule of the new ship has a larger sealed space. In the future, it can be partitioned to set up a work area, entertainment area, dining area and bathroom, so as to provide a more comfortable living environment for astronauts.

The capsule can also be equipped with large screens for entertainment and display instruments connected with wearable devices so that astronauts can enjoy colorful space travel and be kept informed of the ship's conditions.

The new design can also shorten the spaceship development cycle and cut the development costs, which will show a significant advantage in the future with space exploration activities more and more frequent, the CAST said.

Researchers have integrated the power supply, propulsion, fuel resources and other subsystems all into the service capsule, so that the same return capsule can be paired with different service capsules to meet variant needs of multiple tasks, including the space station operation and subsequent manned space missions.

The return capsule is designed to be reusable. Star sensors, computers and other high-value equipment have been moved from the service capsule to the return capsule so that they can be recycled after returning to Earth.

The return capsule is wrapped in two items of "clothing." The inner layer is made of new metal materials and acts as a "wall" around the "driving cab." The outer layer is made of a new type of light heat-resistant material, which can withstand ablation of thousands of degrees Celsius in the process of re-entry and return.

The new heat-resistant materials, adopted for the first time, are lighter than the traditional materials by 30 percent but have a greater heat-shielding capacity. They are also replaceable to improve the reusable rate of the capsule.

The return capsule also uses a non-toxic propulsion system, consisting of 12 monopropellant-powered engines with the largest thrust in the world, which are applied for the first time in China to make the capsule safer and reusable.

China started its manned space program in 1992 and has so far witnessed 11 astronauts enter space and return safely.

However, when the country eyes on the moon and the deeper space, Shenzhou spaceships and Tianzhou cargo spacecraft are no longer enough to meet its greater dreams.

Engineers started to create the new test spaceship from January 2017 and completed it in just three years after making many technological breakthroughs.

It can transport both people and goods, greatly expanding the capability and application of China's manned spacecraft.

It can be called a "space bus" as it is able to send six to seven astronauts at a time into low-Earth orbit. It can also be converted into a "space truck" according to new mission requirements, delivering a large number of supplies to the space station or bringing back space engineers' test samples to Earth. Enditem

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/08/c_139040867.htm

[Orionid]

New Chinese spacecraft landing marks step toward future crewed lunar missions
by Andrew Jones — May 8, 2020 [SN]


Parachute-assisted descent of a new Chinese spacecraft for deep space crewed missions.
Descent of a new Chinese spacecraft for deep space crewed missions. Credit: CASC

HELSINKI — A successful high-speed reentry and landing of a new Chinese spacecraft Friday marked a step toward the country sending astronauts to the moon and deep space.

The new spacecraft was launched by the first Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket Tuesday. The uncrewed spacecraft performed seven orbit-raising maneuvers to reach a final apogee of around 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles).

A deorbit burn was completed at 1:21 a.m. Eastern, followed by separation of the service and crew modules at 1:33 a.m.

(...)
Source: https://spacenews.com/new-chinese-spacecraft-landing-marks-step-toward-future-crewed-lunar-missions/

[Orionid]

China to debut new version of powerful Long March 5 rocket this week
May 4, 2020 Stephen Clark [SFN]


A view of the next-generation Chinese crew spacecraft during pre-launch processing. Credit: CCTV

A prototype for China’s next-generation human-rated spacecraft — flying on a test flight without astronauts — is scheduled to ride a new version of the country’s heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket into orbit this week.

(...)
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/04/china-to-debut-new-version-of-powerful-long-march-5-rocket-this-week/

[Orionid]

China’s first Long March 5B rocket launches on crew capsule test flight
May 5, 2020 Stephen Clark


A Chinese Long March 5B rocket climbs into space Tuesday. Credit: CCTV

Flying without astronauts on a demonstration flight in Earth orbit, a test model of a next-generation Chinese crew capsule lifted off Tuesday on top of a heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket, the same launcher configuration that will loft segments of China’s planned space station.

(...)
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/05/chinas-first-long-march-5b-rocket-launches-on-crew-capsule-test-flight/