Chinese Space Program (CNSA) & Ch. commercial launch and discussion

[steve9728]

 

CMS: According to monitoring analysis, at around 14:05 CST on 21 May 2023, the second stage rocket wreckage of CZ-7 Y7 was re-entry atmosphere. The drop zone is located in the South Pacific (151.6°W, 31.2°S).

However, because it's re-entry was begin in China - someone in Beijing has posted photo of a possible sighting:

 

Edited May 21, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

 

As some kind 'tradition', the commemorative envelope is available for booking on the CNSA's online store. Normally, the crew members are set at least one year advance, but they always officially made public only a few days before the launch:

Edited May 23, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

 

I think one of the reasons is, there's an overlap in launch capacity between CZ-8 and CZ-6A: they all can take 8t to LEO and 5t to SSO when CZ-8 using two boosters. Perhaps the CZ-6X is ‘sounds little more reliable’ during technical demonstrates and experiments.

Edited May 25, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

On 10/17/2022 at 1:51 AM, steve9728 said:

Of course. Especially for a space agency like CNSA, which was not even that well-funded until 2010. The rule is to meet the corresponding launch mass and different orbit. 

CZ-1: First rocket, retired already

CZ-2: The main rocket for LEO

• 2A: Retired already.
• 2C: Deliver the 3 tons objects into LEO.
  • 2C/SD: For the parallel connection of multiple satellites, a Smart Dispenser upper stage was installed on the secondary rocket.
  • 2C/SM: Installed a solid motor at upper stage for HEO satellites.
  • 2C/SMA: Improved 2C/SD's dispenser.
• 2D: Deliver the 4 tons objects into LEO and 1.2 tons to SSO.
• 2E: China's early attempts at commercial space launches. The rockets retired already.
• 2F: For Shenzhou's mission. Based on 2E with the addition of a redundancy system for increased security.
  • CZ-2F/G: the only manned rocket currently in service in China since Shenzhou-7

Add: The CZ-2 and the DF-5 are technically homologous, and even the 2A itself is a "whitened" version of the DF-5. So technically speaking, China's most successful, reliable, and economical rocket, and China's 'nuclear stick', are relatives. The 2D, despite being classified as a CZ-2 rocket family, actually 'bleeds CZ-4 rocket blood': four YF-21B engines used in the first stage of the CZ-4A rocket + one YF-24 engine used in the second stage of the CZ-4A rocket.

CZ-3: Rockets for GTO

• 3: retired already
• 3A: 2.65 tons to GTO. 
• 3B: There are two configurations. The standard one's core stage and boosters are non-extended. 3B was retired at 2012 and the following mission was carried out by 3B/E.
  • CZ-3B/G2: Based on the standard model, the second stage uses the engine of the CZ-2F's second stage rocket, resulting in a strengthened second stage structure. It also uses a 4m diameter fairing and has a capacity of 5.5 tons for the GTO and 3.78 tons for the TLI. And it launched Chang'e-3 in 2013
  • CZ-3B/G3: Based on the CZ-3/G2 with a 4.2m diameter fairing and a GTO carrying capacity of 5.4 tons.
  • CZ-3B/G3Z: Based on the CZ/G3 and use same 4.2m diameter faring. It was fitted with an attitude control engine and the fuel tanks needed for the engine. This configuration is usually coupled with the Yuanzheng-1 upper stage. 
  • CZ-3B/YZ-1: Unlike the previous one, it didn't 'usually' use YZ-1 upper stage but always. It mainly for the launch the Beidou navigation satellites missions and can take 2.2 tons to MEO
  • CZ-3B G5: Based on the CZ-3B/G3Z rocket, the design of the launch trajectory has been optimized with the use of a new fairing with a 900mm extension of the Raku. This configuration is capable of launching not only GEO payloads but also missions in Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO), with a capacity of 4.5 tons for a 500 km SSO.

p.s.: G stand for Chinese word '改'. And the pinyin is 'gǎi'. Means 'improvements' in English

CZ-4: Rocket for SSO

• 4A: Prior to targeting SSO, this model was designed for launch to GSO as a target. And was already retired
• 4B: Compared to 4A, 4B uses a larger 3m inner diameter fairing. 3.066 tons to 500 km SSO and 2.225 to 700 km SSO
• 4C: Based on 4B, a restart capability has been added to the engine of the third stage rocket. It can take 3.289 tons to 500km and 2.288 to 1200 km SSO

CZ-5: The first 5m diameter rocket.

• CZ-5: For heavy satellite platforms such as DFH-5, Lunar and future planetary exploration missions.
• CZ-5B: Only the boosters and core stage remain and use 20m long fairing. It's for CSS construction missions.

CZ-6: Rocket for SSO and will gradually replace the CZ-3 rocket in the future: unlike the CZ-3, which uses highly toxic fuel, it uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

• CZ-6: 1.5 tons to 500 km and 1.0 tons to 700 km SSO
• 6A: The external appearance is very different from that of the CZ-6. Four sets of solid fuel boosters have been added, a YF-100 engine has been added to the first stage and the third stage has been removed. Also, unlike the CZ-6, which uses a 2.25m diameter second stage, its second stage is the same 3.35m as the core stage. Add: it's the CNSA's first rocket combined with solid engine boosters. And it can take 4t to SSO, more than 8t to LEO
• 6X: Reusable one, currently under develop

  Reveal hidden contents

To be honest, I couldn't relate to the two of them when I first saw them:

On the left is CZ-6A and right is CZ-6

CZ-7: It's primarily positioned as a rocket to replace the CZ-2F which uses toxic fuel with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

• CZ-7: Existing plans are mainly for the launch of the Tianzhou cargo ship to CSS
• 7A: Used to fill the gap between 5.5 and 7 tons in geosynchronous transfer orbit. The second stage rocket has been shortened from the CZ-7, reducing its mass from 106 tons to 62.2 tons.

CZ-8: A new non-polluting medium-sized rocket aimed primarily at international commercial launch missions.

• CZ-8 = 2 sets of CZ-7's boosters + CZ-7's first stage + CZ-3A's third stage. It can take 8.1t to LEO, 3t to SSO without boosters and 5t with 2 boosters. 
• CZ-8R: (This plan no longer exists now)

CZ-9: Heavy rocket. None of the options seem to be set in stone now: put it bluntly, it's not even clear that this thing will be of any use other than going to Mars. The engine it needs is now almost complete on trial and is in the optimization phase.

CZ-10: AKA "Next Generation Crewed Launch Vehicle" or "921 rocket". 

It's designed for future manned missions to the moon and next gen manned spaceship to LEO. According to this image, I think we can safely assume that it can perform unmanned or not to the moon and to the LEO missions.

CZ-11: It is used for the rapid mobile launch of emergency satellites to meet the launch needs of microsatellites in emergency situations such as natural disasters and emergencies.

• CZ-11: Based on Dongfeng 31 missile. 750kg to 200km LEO and 500 kg to 700km SSO.
• 11H: Same thing but launched at sea
• 11A: It uses a 2.4m diameter solid motor to replace the CZ-11's 2m one. Currently under develop

 

Find something cool but I missed. Add something to my previous summary of Long March rocket family. Those data may have little flaws, but it should be helpful for starter. The image he put "未服役" is not "cancelled" in English but 'not in service yet'

Edited May 24, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

In the four EVA missions carried out by SZ-15 crew, officially report what they did was include installed backup thermal control pump, cross-module cables, and support rods for exposure experiment platforms at MT module. 

The cables installation before & after:

 

And the rods:

Fun fact is, these rods have already been set up at the platform before launch - the astronaut, Fei Junlong, who went to install it didn't need to take it out from the station. He only needs to take the special electrical tools, reach the work site by the robotic arm, unlock the rods from the platforms, and connected with the bulkhead. Then lock it again. Just one person can do the entire job.

Edited May 24, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

 

I forget this. Jilin Changguang's product wasn't too big: around 50kg each one, 2050kg for 41. One of the good options for the local governments and other departments that need satellite for land and resource determination services.

[steve9728]

 

Meanwhile, a "spoiler" from the first taikonaut Yang Liwei, the vice chief designer of CMSA also confirm that the SZ-16 crew will have the first taikonaut who didn't have any PLAAF background. "More than that, in the future, there will be lots of payload specialists from different fields living and working in the station", he said.

Edited May 27, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

Good news is:

 

Bad news is that the systems on board the Shenzhou have been 'technically frozen' to ensure reliability -making the up and downstream signal bandwidth is limited. So according to the video footage from the rehearsal, the camera in the cabin seems didn't get improve.

Edited May 27, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

China is using satellites to police the protection of nature — but will it work?

Must be said that there is room for further improvement in the matter of "confidentiality" in some of the departments concerned. But this is a pretty complicated matter in fact.

Previously I heard from some factory owners that his peer's factories (I suspect it was him) were then investigated by the officers from environmental authorities after being detected by satellite as not meeting environmental standards. Considering recent domestic news that "a mine pit that was supposed to be backfilled years ago was found by satellite to be getting bigger and bigger", satellites are indeed very useful.

Edited May 27, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

Xinhua: Shenzhou-16 mission has completed the full system drill and airtightness check. At present, the rocket, spacecraft and launch site systems are in good condition and all preparations have been completed before the rocket refuelling.

The first press conference of the Shenzhou-16 crew will be broadcast live on CCTV4 at 8:45 (GMT+8) tomorrow.

Edited May 28, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

17 hours ago, steve9728 said:

Xinhua: Shenzhou-16 mission has completed the full system drill and airtightness check. At present, the rocket, spacecraft and launch site systems are in good condition and all preparations have been completed before the rocket refuelling.

The first press conference of the Shenzhou-16 crew will be broadcast live on CCTV4 at 8:45 (GMT+8) tomorrow.

 

Press conference, English available from 15:17: https://tv.cctv.com/2023/05/29/VIDETnStcXB81cWyRrWmzdYv230529.shtml?spm=C55953877151.PjvMkmVd9ZhX.0.0

01, the pilot: Jing Haipeng (景海鹏), Rank of Major General in PLA, Captain of PLA Astronaut Corps, who was carried out Shenzhou-6, 9, and 11 mission. He will also be the only astronaut who visit Tiangong-1, 2, and CSS.

02, the flight engineer: Zhu Yangzhu (朱杨柱), Rank of Colonel in PLA, PhD, was an associate professor at Space Engineering University. His field of study is mechanics.

03, the payload specialist: Gui Haichao (桂海潮), PhD from Beihang University, Professor and PhD supervisor of Department of Spacecraft Technology, School of Astronautics, Beihang University.

Edited May 29, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

2 hours ago, steve9728 said:

Press conference, English available from 15:17: https://tv.cctv.com/2023/05/29/VIDETnStcXB81cWyRrWmzdYv230529.shtml?spm=C55953877151.PjvMkmVd9ZhX.0.0

All technical preparations for foreign astronaut recruitment have been done and currently under planning. The selection of the fourth batch of astronauts was completed in March this year during the preliminary selection phase.  In total, more than 100 candidates have entered the re-election stage. The pilot is from the army, navy, and air force pilots, while the engineers and payload specialists are from the industrial sectors and higher education institutions. More than ten of the candidates from HK and Macau have made in the re-election. The full selection process is expected to be completed by the end of this year. If the candidates from HK and Macau can finally pass the re-election and final selection, they will enter the astronaut research and training centre in the beginning of next year. Then carry on the proper astronaut training process for two and half years. 

As for "when taikonaut can reach the moon?", the official answer from this conference is before 2030.

[steve9728]

The crew member press conference, English unavailable.

[steve9728]

T-4.5 hour. There isn’t sunrise yet, but the surprise is that CCTV is already live and invited the CNSA engineer to introduce things about manned space missions … in full Chinese of course.

Edited May 29, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

[steve9728]

 

As "one of the traditions": military salute at the moment of rocket ignition. Surprisingly that Gui Haichao (the one on the right closest to the camera) wasn't in the PLA before but he also did that. It's not that there are rules against saluting if you're not a soldier, it's that there might be a little flaw in the etiquette. But after all, he's an astronaut - one of the finest groups of human beings - so this little flaw doesn't matter.

Gui Haichao: The rocket ride is awesome! (坐火箭太爽了！)

[steve9728]

3 hours ago, steve9728 said:

We have a new record - 17 people in space stations at same time!

ISS:

• Soyuz MS-23: Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitry Petelin, Francisco Rubio
• Crew-6: Stephen Bowen, Warren Hoburg, Sultan Al Neyadi, Andrey Fedyaev
• AX-2:Peggy Whitson, John Shoffner, Ali AlQarni, Rayyanah Barnawi

CSS:

• Shenzhou-15: Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming, Zhang Lu
• Shenzhou-16: Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu, Gui Haichao

6 from CN, 5 from US, 3 from RU, 2 from SA, and 1 from AE

Source

Screenshot from CCTV's live

The couplet in Tianhe reads:

• Right: SZ-15 crew fulfilled their dreams and sang triumphant songs back home (十五圓夢凱歌還)
• Left: The flag fluttered in the wind as SZ-16 crew flew into space (十六飛天旌旗展)
• Top: Welcome teammates (歡迎隊友)

According to the NOTAM published days ago, Shenzhou-15 crew are expected to land at the Dongfeng landing site on 4 June from 06:11-6:41 CST

[steve9728]

 

Then jokes about "your paper make your tutor so angry that make him bursting into atmosphere" made by Beihang University students are coming more and more. Such as:

Astronaut PhD supervisor, who comes to the group chat 16 times a day to see if you guys have finished your papers.

 

-Shenzhou-16, here's ground control speaking. Why Gui's heart rate and blood pressure suddenly go up so much? Are you alright?

-Ah never mind. His PhD student has just uploaded a paper to the station for him to read.

 

"Days later:

Student A: hey look! It's a shooting star!

Student B: nah, that's our tutor who was so angry that he threw our paper straight back to us!

Months later:

Student C: hey look! It's a shooting star!

Student D: nah, that's our tutor who was so p*ssed off that make he come back to us!

Years later:

Student E: hey look! It's a shooting star!

Student F: nah, that's our seniors being thrown back from the station by our tutor!"

 

"Now we have a new research topic: the study of changes in the tutor's ability to tolerate papers under weightless conditions."

Edited May 30, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

 

Both two stands on the left and right all test-run YF-100K in 700t thrust. "The test-run has fully tested the process and procedures of the duplex state changeover on the test stand. Efficient and accurate state switching is one of the core and important processes of the duplex test stand and is a prerequisite for fast and agile iterative full load operation of the test stand. The two stands will be subject to frequent alternating test-runs in the future. To meet the test conditions required for engine development and delivery.", said by China Space News.

[steve9728]

 

I can see how expensive to take this photo!

[steve9728]

 

The station is Wi-Fi available. So, you can see SZ-15 crew using phone to communicate with SZ-16 crew. However, for security against hacking, it is a local area network without access to the Internet. 

[steve9728]

SZ-15 & 16 crew has finished the space station handover ceremony - by signing the handover checklist and passing on the 'CSS Key': a ratchet spanner to open the other hatches.

Source: CMSA's official weibo

[steve9728]

 

[steve9728]

Although the live in Chinese was already begin

Edited June 3, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

Welcome back!

The first meal for Fei Junlong is Chicken soup noodles, with two fried eggs and a side of bok choy. Deng Qingming is Fuzhou (抚州) rice noodles and pork & spring onion dumplings. Zhang Lu is Changde (常德) rice noodles and Hanshou Yubi Lotus Root.

Well, sounds very digestible.