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

[steve9728]

Wu Yansheng, Party Secretary and Chairman of CASC, was make a speech to introducing what was Chinese space program was did, what are doing right now, and the ambition of the future. (Of course there's no English subtitles)

In addition to the 'standing dish' about plans for CZ-9, NGCS (next-generation crewed spacecraft) and the accompanying new manned rocket.

Spoiler

LEO 70t and TLI 25t, planned finish its maiden flight around 2027 (But, HEY! Seems like here's no faring like CZ-2F!)

LEO is expected to reach more than 150t and TLI more than 50t

There's something new (But not that new):

"For on-orbit service and maintenance, we plan to have an on-orbit service and maintenance system consisting of three systems: high-orbit service, orbital transfer and efficient low-cost transportation by 2030. Disrupt existing spacecraft development, launch, deployment, and application models. Significantly improve the effectiveness of the use of our space assets."

"Around 2025, near-Earth asteroids and main belt comets will be explored. Implementation of a Mars sample return mission in the next 10 to 15 years."

"Planetary exploration of the Jupiter system and Uranus; solar exploration and solar system edge exploration. The flight distance will reach 100 AU by the 100th anniversary of the founding of China."

"Around 2030, the 'Mi Yin (I think can translate to Sound Searching) project' will be implemented to explore whether there are planets outside the solar system that are suitable for human habitation"

And some NEW cg (started from 0:50:40):

A new node for CSS (it also may be the 'Tianhe-2 Lite') 

Manned spacecraft and the landing module

Landing module on the moon

Edited December 20, 2022 by steve9728

[steve9728]

Watch a video about a group of astronomy enthusiasts in the outskirts of Beijing who captured the CSS and ISS appearing in the night sky at the same time

On the bottom left is CSS and top right is ISS. This opportunity is quite rare have to say, but since the video doesn't even have a single English character, I won't put the link. If you're curious, the Chinese subtitle in the screenshot reads "Quietly crossing each other under the sky with full of stars".

Edited December 22, 2022 by steve9728

[steve9728]

On 12/20/2022 at 12:14 AM, steve9728 said:

Apparently, there's something 'rocket' was launched:

Video taken by another witness

What a turn it made!

[steve9728]

The solar panels rotate in the direction of the sun.

A paper from CMS (or other institute I forget) said, "the solar panels shifted from Tianhe to both end of the modules will rotate with the truss to orientate to the sun. Therefor the transferred solar panels are not equipped with their drive mechanism and actuator." This means that the original drive mechanism will remain on the Tianhe. I think it's possible that new extra-vehicular experimental platforms will be added to these two areas if the capacity allows and there's a corresponding demand.

Edited December 24, 2022 by steve9728

[steve9728]

Nice summary. But apart from those mentioned in the video, the most attracted me was the remote sensing satellites were launched almost every month on average. If we add up the SAR and optical remote sensing satellites, it even seems at least two launch missions each month in 2022.

Thank you CZ-2D, which the rocket with most launches in 2022

Hope everything goes well for the Landspace's Zhuque-2 Y2 next year!

Edited December 26, 2022 by steve9728

[steve9728]

 

"How to save your cost as possible?"

[steve9728]

Speaking of which, another remote sensing satellites

 

A pomegranate for the patch. My stereotypical northern fruit.

[steve9728]

 

 

The last launch this year. And someone made some stunning shots!

"The satellite is mainly used for in-orbit validation tests of new technologies such as space environment monitoring.", said by CCTV's official weibo.

[steve9728]

Alright there's no surprising launch this year because those official weibo are already posting out the 2022 summarises

In 2022, China launched 64 rockets in total. They are:

Long March family: 53 times

• CZ-2D, 15 times
• CZ-4C, 9 times
• CZ-2C, 6 times
• CZ-11 & CZ-3B, 4 times
• CZ-2F, 3 times
• CZ-5B, CZ-6, CZ-7, CZ-4B, CZ-6A, 2 times
• CZ-7A & CZ-8, 1 time

Commercial company and CASIC: 11 times and 2 failures

• CASIC (中国航天科工)
  • KZ-1A, 4 times
  • KZ-11, 1 time
• Galactic Energy (星河动力)
  • CERES-1, 2 times
• CAS-Space (中科宇航)
  • LJ-1, 1 time
• CALT (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, 中国运载火箭技术研究院)
  • JL-3, 1 time 
• Landspace (蓝箭航天)
  • JQ-1, 1 time, failure
• i-Space (星际荣耀)
  • SQX-1, 1 time, failure

In these 64 launches, JSLC were carried out 25 times, XSLC 21 times (WSLS 6 times), TSLC 15 times and launch at Yellow Sea 3 times (2 cold launch and 1 hot launch)

(Fun fact: Wenchang Space Launch Site is belonging to the XSLC)

According to publicly available information, there are 159 satellites/spacecrafts have been sent in scheduled orbits by these 64 launches this year.

Edited December 31, 2022 by steve9728

[steve9728]

On 12/29/2022 at 1:06 AM, steve9728 said:

In 1960s to 70s, the one of the craziest times, there had a manned spacecraft project in China called Shuguang-1 (The Chinese pronunciation of this word sounds very good to me).  

And I found interview transcripts with quite a lot of detail of the earliest Chinese astronauts but who never went into space. And yep, it's fully Chinese.

Now, 'Shuguang' become the dispatch code for the astronaut system on manned missions. In one way or another, it's a tribute to these pioneers.

  Reveal hidden contents

I was just found and bought a book online about this. I'll see if there are any more interesting details worth sharing when the book arrives in a few days later.

An official documentary about Shuguang-1 project, and with English subtitles: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ss411375n?p=6&vd_source=6fef304b8d0c4737896e6b702ddfbfb3

Book has arrived and I use entire day to read it. Because that's full of China's space project history not just simply something project never going off paper. So I think I need to put it there. And that... that just make a lot of sense of why 921 Project, or the more famous name, the Shenzhou Project can have such rapid progress: Admittedly, technical cooperation with Russia, such as astronaut training, manned spacecraft design and the technical exchange of escape tower technology, is vital. But if without the data from "Shuguang Project", such as data on space medicine, research on space food, airtightness and insulation of space suits, etc.

I think I can make some kind spoiler: no one can buy and read this book anyway

Chapter 1: Everything is hard at first

Back in August 1958, the draft concept for the development of an artificial satellite had already been drawn up: the mission was code-named "Mission 581" because it was classified as the first major mission of 1958. The plan was divided into three steps: the first step was to launch a sounding rocket, of two types: high-altitude physical and biological; the second step was to launch a small satellite, "but not a potato or an egg, like the US, but at least one or two hundred kilograms in weight"; and the third step was to launch a large satellite, weighing several tons or more. So it was at this time that the Chinese Academy of Sciences mainly carried out research on space biology such as animal centrifuges, vibration, low pressure, and biological training.

Spoiler

Centrifuge experiments on rats:

So, the first question before the researchers at this point was: what is high-altitude oxygenation? Relations between China and the Soviet were still good at this time, but there was considerable secrecy on the Soviet side about the advanced and cutting-edge scientific research topics and weaponry of the time. "The new ships of the Baltic Fleet were close at hand, but instead of arranging a visit for us naval colleagues, they made us board a tourist boat on the Neva River. When we reached the shipyard, the curtains on the windows were lowered, as if they were afraid of what we might see. During the professional tour of the ship model experiment pool, even the model ships doing the tests were covered up, obviously to keep it a secret from us. "said by Luo Shunchu, deputy head of the Chinese delegation to the Soviet Union. But perhaps it was the Soviets who felt that the institute of aeromedical sciences was not so sensitive to the usefulness of the Chinese: of course, we the Chinese were always trying to learn something about atomic bombs, missiles and nuclear subs at those times, which quite sensitive even now The technology of how to supply oxygen to pilots at high altitude and low pressure is "really nothing". So, the Soviet agreed to Chinese order for two complete sets of oxygen supply equipment for MiG-21 pilots (The actual introduction of entire MiG-21s in China instead came a year later, in February 1959). 

Pressurised oxygen supply equipment is available now, the second problem is the low-pressure containment chamber. At this time China had only just emerged from years of war not more than ten years earlier. There wasn't that much metal material available. So, Professor Liang Zhiming from the Mechanics Department of the Nanjing Engineering Institute made calculations and concluded that the concrete culverts of the railway could withstand the enormous pressure and that the low-pressure compartment hull could be constructed entirely of reinforced concrete. The researchers were inspired by the raw lacquer on the very well-preserved wooden figurines when they visited the Nanjing Museum. After consulting a number of chemical experts and receiving the answer that "it is possible to use it in the construction of low-pressure cabins", "they made a kind of putty out of raw lacquer and applied it to the exterior of the cabin, paying special attention to filling in and scraping the gaps between the metal and the concrete, and then painted it with two coats of raw lacquer, resulting in a good sealing layer. The laboratory men also covered the painted pods with another layer of triclinium and a coat of grey paint. For those who don't know they think it's also a metal pod." The result is also quite good: it keeps the cabin air pressure at the equivalent of 10,000 metres above sea level.

And for the Chinese the source of technology for high altitude pressure resistant suits and oxygen supply equipment was not only the Soviet Union but also the United States. Time came in 1959 when the Chinese shot down several RB-57D and the U-2. By studying several captured American pilot's G-suites, and oxygen regulators, several institutes of the Academy of Aeronautics and Sciences developed the "6002 pilot's pressure resistant suits". In addition, the researchers identified a serious flaw in the oxygen supply equipment used by the Americans at the time: when the user inhaled at a high flow rate, the sub-membranous chamber of the respiratory valve would change from positive to negative pressure through priming, and under the positive pressure in the helmet, the gas would quickly escape through the expiratory valve, at which point the oxygen supply equipment would lose its ability to supply oxygen to the pilot

Spoiler

In 1970, the 507 Institue was assembling the ground test parts of the environmental control and life support system of Shuguang-1

[steve9728]

Chapter 2:  Scouting before we going to the sky

Sep. 13, 1960, the T-7M sounding rocket was successfully launched at "Base 603" (I post the Chinese wiki link because there's more photos and details). The engine test stand was converted from an abandoned bunker left behind by the Japanese invaders during the WWII. "Due to the conditions, some of the auxiliary equipment had to be used as substitutes. Without a crane, the rocket was lifted onto the launcher similar to the old Chinese winch; without fuel pressurisation equipment, the scientists used a bicycle pump to pump up the air pressure; it was too late to build a communication line, so the crowd used hand signals or passed shouts by people to communicate with the experimental site; without an automatic telemetry directional antenna, they relied on a few people to track the rocket by turning the antenna by hand. The command post was just 100m between the launcher tower, a straw hut on the ridge of a field with a protective wall made of sand and earth bales, how backwardness it was!"

Spoiler

The launch site on the outskirts of Shanghai converted from rice field

Photographer Ju Lang was capturing one of the tests (I think it was a space food test). I'm looking for his books. However, because of the small number of copies printed and their age, it's quite difficult.

The biological advisor on biological systems in the programme at the time, one of China's most authoritative biologists, Bei Shizhang, pointed to the need for cosmic biology research through biological sounding rockets. "The bio-rocket had a sealed experimental chamber at its head. The chamber is divided into two layers, upper and lower, with the upper layer housing a plexiglass box in which two rats with oil moving freely are placed, and a video camera above the box, which is set up by Pall to show the transition of the rats from a super-heavy state to a weightless state during the flight and the changes in the animals' posture during the weightless state. The lower level of the bio cabin contains two rats in special fixtures and two mice, one of which is used for telemetry of ECG. The top of the bio cabin contains eight mice and various biological sample tubes, 12 of which contain fruit flies, whiskers, and other biological products."

The effects of noise on animals during high altitude flights also need to be simulated on the ground first. Of course, the Biophysics Institute didn't have a noise laboratory at the time. They then found a women's toilet in the Institute for special alterations. The floor and walls are terrazzo, and each wall are fitted with large and small sound speakers that play different decibels of noise and simulate the sound of flight.

Spoiler

In addition to the noise, there is weightlessness. But there were no facilities or conditions for weightlessness experiments. But a few young scientists were unwilling to give up and finally came up with a "rudimentary" solution: they took the rats up to the roof of a high building, threw them down from the top, and a few people stretched out a big sheet at the bottom of the building to catch them. Repeatedly, the whole group observed the rat's reflexes as it fell from the building. "I'm afraid that the only place in the world where you can see such a scientific experiment is in China." Such an experiment needed to be documented, and it took the researchers all over the country to find a few boxes of 8mm format film, and a while to solve the problem of developing it: because the project was of a cutting-edge secrecy level, it was impossible to take it out for processing and development. The experiments were done thousands of times and the researchers watched the test footage many times over and over again, with excellent results.

19 July 1964 at 0903, the first bio-rocket launched from Base 603. Flight altitude 70km. Twenty minutes later, the bio capsule landed safely. Post-recovery fertility experiments have also shown that the flight team's fertility and the ratio of male to female offspring are within the natural probability range. And rats became the first pioneers to go to the space.

Spoiler

Angry rats: @#$%^&*!

Meanwhile, the researchers have bought monkeys and dogs from the city. And this went to Professor He Muyan, who later served in the Department of Biology at Peking University. "In those days, monkeys were easy to buy. He Muyan didn't have much trouble picking out a little monkey and putting it inside a cage made of wire, and it was impossible to have a special car at that time, so she got on a bus. A young lady, with a little monkey, on a bus was very intriguing to people. And what was even more hilarious was that, as the bus was moving, the little monkey, don't know what magic powers it used, got out of the dense cage, and jumped around in the bus, scurrying back and forth, causing chaos all over the bus for a while. Monkey may be small, but they are much more agile than people. Some people were so scared of the monkeys that they didn't know where to hide, while others stood up to help catch them. It took half a day of shouting and screaming to get the monkey back into the cage."

"It took a lot of care and attention to take care of this little monkey, no less than taking medicine for a baby. Because the monkey was so small, it had to be fed thin rice by the spoonful at every meal. In winter, we had to make a cotton vest for it to wear, just in case it caught cold and got sick."

"Over the months, the baby monkeys slowly bonded with people too. The research team could let it play around in the palm of their hands, which was very amusing. However, as a human relative, although the monkey was very intelligent, once it was trained to do experiments and put into restraints, the little monkey was not happy and immediately screamed and struggled desperately, turning its face away from people as soon as it broke free. He jumped up and down throughout the laboratory, banging his head against the wall and often causing the operators a lot of trouble."

"Later, the monkeys were eliminated from the list of experiments and being too rowdy was considered one of the reasons."

Spoiler

Angry rats: thanks!

P.S.: the monkey now in China is Grade II protected animal at least. Some species are Grade I. Five years for buying, selling, and keeping a Grade II protected animal. Five to ten years in serious cases and more than ten years in particularly serious cases.

So naturally, dogs were the focus of the experiment. And the first test puppy was also bought by He Muyan into the city. Having learnt her lesson last time, this time she took a tricycle back to the test site. The little male dog was named "Xiao Hei (Blackie)" because it's black and shiny fur by He Muyan. Later the experimenters also bought some puppies from a nearby circus who might not have done so well in their performance studies. Within a few years, the laboratory had bred a colony of hundreds of dogs, which were carefully nurtured and trained by the experimenters and put through their paces.

Spoiler

Trial dog Shanshan and her granddaughter Xiao Bao (little leopard)

Dressing the flying hero, Xiao Bao.

High-temperature testing of animals

Neuropsychological Conditioning Training for Puppies.

In a series of "harder than picking a girlfriend" selections, the researchers chose Xiao Bao to be the first puppy to go into space.

14 July 1966 around 7 o'clock, Xiao Bao has been launched by T-7A (S2) rocket. Flight altitude was same as the last one which taking rats: 70km. 24 minutes later, the bio capsule landed safely.

Spoiler

Local militia carried out the bio capsule recovery

After recovery, the returned animals were experimentally observed in the homes of local people for various biochemical indicators.

The last three lines in the picture: At that time, we had never used colour film in photography, but in order to take pictures of Xiao Bao, Ju Lang bought a roll of 120 colour film, which one roll can take 12 pictures. He didn't bother to use it for other experiments, and he didn't bother to use it for the group photo of the leaders but used it exclusively to take pictures of Xiao Bao. He really treated it with extra respect

Edited December 31, 2022 by steve9728

[steve9728]

Chapter 3: NO. 507

Back in time to January 1966. The Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) held a "Planning Meeting for Manned Space Voyages". The conference, which lasted for more than twenty days, covered the interconnection and interface of bio-bearing sounding rockets, bio-bearing satellites, unmanned spacecraft and manned spacecraft. Three scientists (the biologist Bei Shizhang, the physiologist Cai Qiao and the medical scientist Shen Qizhen) spoke at the conference and presented their ideas for the plan. This was then discussed in separate sessions and finally an outline was drawn up.

The first major debate at this point was what steps to take if we were to go on a manned spacecraft. Should space medicine include biology, and would biological experiments be needed before going on board?

The idea of bio-bearing satellites was making from IBP. And by then they already had a general purpose, a vision and specific targets. "From the path taken by the Soviet and the US, animal experiments must be carried out before going up to man and launching satellites carrying organisms, which is a prerequisite for spacecraft, and one cannot be in too much of a hurry to attempt a quick fix. "Astronauts have to face many major problems when they go up, and these problems can only be studied in depth through biological experiments, to elucidate why they occur and thus take protective measures," said Be Shi Zhang. That's why launching satellites with biologicals on board first, through animal experiments and then over to humans, is a sure way to go. Who would dare to start with humans when there is not yet any talk of putting me on board? "

The idea sounded very pragmatic: it was both in line with the laws of scientific research and with the actual situation in China at the time and was entirely correct. A significant number of representatives from all parties present agreed with it. In addition, the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry (aka the PRC Aerospace Industry Department) had similar views. It was thought that China did not need to follow the example of the Soviet Union and the USA and did not advocate manned spacecraft, because what was now thought of could be done just as well by relying on satellites, and the cost of the line was much lower than that of manned spacecraft.

But at this time, there is another view that is diametrically opposed to this. The view is that, under the present circumstances, there is no need for any satellites carrying living creatures at all, but that we should go straight to manned spacecraft.  This school of argument is led by Cai Qiao of the Academy of Military Sciences, and the reasons they cite sound convincing: as early as the end of 1959, the Academy of Military Sciences had already included research into the safeguarding of space medicine in its scientific research programme. This means that they had been working on this related field for seven years, and the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences already had some experience of launching sounding rockets carrying living creatures. At the same time, it could also draw on the experience of foreign manned spacecraft flying at the time." As things stand now, get a spacecraft and we're sure to carry a man on board the first time! ", Cai Chiao insisted.

No sooner had Cai Qiao's words fallen than someone next to him could hear no more. He slapped the table and stood up, saying: "Then why not you be the first one takes the spaceship?!" This said by Han Zhaogui, Director of the Planning Division of the IBP. He felt that although Cai Chiao was a respected old scientist, this statement was really unacceptable and a rather brutal display. Fortunately, the strategic decision makers at this time had also learnt from the blind brutality of the Cultural Revolution and did not adopt the "direct to manned spacecraft" option. The final outcome of the debate was to arrive at the launch of the first manned spacecraft in 1973-1975, enabling the first manned space flight. In order to achieve this goal, the plan proposes some major implementation measures, such as replenishing scientific and technical personnel and raising research centres for space medicine and space biology, as well as large-scale simulation equipment, and making full use of aircraft, rockets and satellites to carry out relevant pre-research work.

Once the programme and objectives have been set, the next question is how the various departments should be organised and managed. Previously, the relevant research, technology introduction and cooperation were basically managed by several research departments under their own responsibility. The most realistic issue arising from such a problem is that of funding. At the same time, various needs and plans had to be submitted and approved by different decision-makers in different units, "which often gave rise to conflicts and wasted money and time."  So the GLD contact with STC (Science and Technology Commission). They suggested that the Institute of Aerospace Medicine of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences be transferred out to create an independent research institute for space medicine. At the same time merge the sister units and put them under the direct responsibility of COSTIND. 

1 April 1968, the Institute of Space Medicine and Engineering, aka Institute 507, is officially formed. It combines the Institute of Aerospace Medicine from AMMS, three research laboratories from CAS involved in space biology research, a research group specialising in space medicine at the Institute of Experimental Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and a number of researchers from other departments.

27 Sep. 1968, Central Military Commission held its inaugural and naming meeting at Peking University Changping Campus and gave the Institute of Space Medicine and Engineering the designation of the 507th Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. 507 is derived from the fact that it is the 7th Institute under the 5th Research Institute of the STC. The CMC let 507 temporarily borrow the premises of Peking University Changping for its research.

Spoiler

Meeting site

The exterior of the Changping campus of Peking University in 1968

At this time, 507 was 50 km away from downtown Beijing - meaning it was able to get somewhat away from some of the political turmoil of the time. But the problem was that, like other research institutions in China at the time, everything was literally lacking: everything the researchers needed including, but not limited to, dining halls, dormitories, offices, water, electricity and gas, and not even a telephone line. Therefore, in the early days of its establishment, not only did the PLA engineering units that came to support it, but the entire scientific staff was involved in the construction of the 507 required.

Spoiler

In the early days of the establishment, a researcher from 507 was involved in the construction.

A year later, in the autumn of 1969, Peking University approached the CMC and the Fifth Institute to ask 507 to move: the PKU had resumed classes and they needed premises. in November, the CMC informed the Fifth Institute, which in turn informed 507 to move out of Peking University and temporarily borrow the premises of the Beijing Institute of Technology (now it called Beijing Polytechnic University). But then, because of the Cultural Revolution and the breakdown of relations between China and the Soviet Union, many of the higher education institutions in Beijing were relocated to the third front of China (where the south-western part of China). At this point, someone brought up a quote from Mao Zedong, saying "Isn't its bull*** to have an agricultural university in the city? "So, Beijing Agricultural University was relocated to a ravine in northern Shaanxi Province for a decade (I mean wt...)

As a result, with a floor area of 120,000 square metres was vacated on the site of the Beijing Agricultural University and allocated to CMC. CMC itself didn't keep any inch of this land and gave it all to the then also newly established Fifth Institute. The Fifth Institute actually had several labs of its own that were also short of space, but the needs of the 507 couldn't be delayed any longer. So, 50,000 square metres was allocated from this land to 507.

In June 1970, two years after its foundation, 507 finally had a space that wasn't "temporarily borrowed" for its own experimental research.

Spoiler

November 1969, when 507 moved to the Beijing Institute of Technology.

In June 1970, 507 moved again to the Beijing Agricultural University. They have converted the teaching building for soil chemistry into a research office building.

Edited January 1, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

Chapter 4: "Shuguang (the Dawn)" gradually taking shape

Another question that came up at the previous meeting in 1966 was how many people should be carried on a manned spacecraft. Some said it should carry 2, some said 3, and there were even 5 or 7. "Our first Chinese satellite, DFH-1, weighed as much as the first Soviet, American, French and Japanese satellites combined, so why can't our first manned spacecraft weigh more than theirs as well! " (holy...)  

In the end, of course, "high enthusiasm always cools off in the face of reality." At a time when technology, capital and industrial infrastructure were scarce, when even transport capacity was inadequate, people gradually calmed down.

On the 8 April 1968, before the 507 was formally established and before the researchers from the other merged institutes were due, the 507 reported some progress on "Shuguang-1" to the Fifth Institute and raised the issue of additional scientific and technical personnel, equipment development and astronaut training. Two months later, the development of the space suits needed for "Shugaung-1" began, and the related life support medicine and engineering work began one after another.

The complete breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations with 1966. The Dongfeng Base (aka JSLC now), which was then used to launch missiles, was first surveyed, designed and built entirely with the participation of Soviet experts. The Soviets knew all about it, and because of its proximity to Mongolia and its proximity to Soviet forces, it was not conducive to secrecy and was vulnerable to sabotage. And at a time when local conflicts were occurring on the Sino-Soviet border, the consequences of a major war would have been unthinkable. So, Dongfeng Base started to select sites in the third front in southwest China in December 1969. The important principle was that the discipline should be considered for long-term development, but also to facilitate secrecy and construction. Two months later, a survey team of around 40 people will pre-select three locations: Yuexi in Sichuan Province, Xichang in northern Yunnan Province, and Huangling in Shaanxi Province.

The initial choice was not Xichang, as it later became, but Yuexi. It was reported and approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission. However, a subsequent review revealed that although Viet Sai was well located: surrounded by mountains, its secluded terrain made for a stable strategic position; and in the event of a large, inclined satellite or spacecraft launch to the northeast, the first and second stage rocket wreckage landed in a safe location. However, the Yuexi proposal was overly concerned with the requirements of "leaning against the mountains, dispersal, concealment and access to the cave", making it a long and difficult project, with high investment and not conducive to long-term development. After a subsequent third review and a more in-depth additional survey of Xichang, the decision to establish a satellite launch site in Xichang was made through a comprehensive comparison of the two locations, topography, climate, earthquakes, strategic position and technical requirements. 

29 July 1970, Dongfeng Base submitted a report to the COSTIND and the CMC requesting a change in the location of the test site for ground-to-ground missiles, satellites and spacecraft. On 14 October, the State Council and the Central Military Commission approved the reorganisation of Xichang from the previous Yuexi, codenamed "Project 7201", meaning that the main works would be completed by 1972 in preparation for the launch mission. The idea was to establish a launch site for manned spacecraft in Xichang and to carefully select and train the first astronauts in Beijing. Both tasks were then carried out in high secrecy: the astronauts did not know where the launch site was, and Xichang did not know that the state was secretly training astronauts. However, due to unfavourable factors such as the country's overall power, technical conditions and transportation, and the subsequent cancellation of the "Shuguang" project, the launch site for the manned rocket was never built.

In 1968, the 507 began to demonstrate experimental equipment such as centrifuges, and from 1971 to 1978, the 507 built centrifuges, chambers 1, 2 and 3, impact tower, electric swings and flight simulators. The manned centrifuge named as type-68. It has a total weight of 137 tonnes and can produce an overweight of 25G. The processing and production of the equipment took the combined efforts of more than twenty factories in six provinces and cities to complete. The hydraulic system of the main machine, the central turntable and the three-axis frame were all produced and manufactured in different factories in Shanghai. Due to the extra weight, width, and height of the machine, it was completely impossible to transport it by road from Shanghai to Beijing. So, the equipment had to be installed by land and sea, taking six days, a 3,000-tonne cargo ship and more than 30 large trailers and other vehicles. More annoyingly, it was a half-baked product that was not working well from the start, requiring endless daily tests and was very unstable due to the adoption of an underdeveloped hydraulic solution rather than the more technically stable motor-driven solution proposed by 507. The first manned operation wasn't completed until 1985. (Add: Personally, I think here's something mistake made by the author: it's more likely can be used in 1970-1975 because 1980-1985 there were already reduced because the project been cancelled from an institute of thousands of people to just over 300.)

Spoiler

Spoiler

Type 68 manned centrifuge laboratory exterior.

Type 68 manned centrifuge itself.

As a comparison, this’s the centrifuge now in use.

The Chamber 1 is simulating the pressure, gas composition, atmospheric pollution, and microclimate of the spacecraft's interior environment. The main purpose is to study the effects of the cabin environment on the human body, to develop environmental control systems, to design physiological parameters and to provide the necessary hardware for subsequent training. In addition, a spacecraft explosion decompression human simulation chamber has been set up to carry out spacecraft life support system equipment simulation experiments and explosion decompression experiments.

The overall plan for Shuguang-1 was to implement a multi-person, multi-day in-orbit. Naturally, there can be no shortage of meals and water. After coordination, 507 and the Ministry of Light Industry Fermented Food Research Institute, Yimin Food 1st Factory (now they are making snacks), Sichuan Meilin Canned Food Factory (also exists today, their luncheon meat used for fried rice is quite delicious for me) and more than 20 other units such as Shanghai Coffee Factory, set up aerospace food research do. In total, more than 200 different staples, sides, beverages, compressed foods, and semi-solids have been tried and tested through video taxation experiments in weightless aircraft and many experimentalists' consumption experiments. To reduce the need for astronauts to defecate in their space suits during missions, a low residue process was used to meet the requirements of light weight and small size, and the use of advanced freeze sublimation technology from the US at the time. These technologies and research experience were inherited in the Shenzhou project, which decades after the cancellation of the Shuguang project.

After the space food was developed, several experiments and tests were carried out. By simulating the space environment, a recumbent low-gravity feeding experiment was carried out in a space living environment simulation chamber - aka low-pressure simulation chamber. The subjects lived in the equivalent of weightlessness for a maximum of 29 days in the capsule, using spaceflight food exclusively for every meal and following a regime similar to that of life in space. The results of the experiment proved that the subjects had a good appetite, normal health status, no change in average body weight, 95% food digestibility and satisfactory overall test results.

Spoiler

Spoiler

Scientists from 507 and workers from Yiming Food Factory were developing the space food together. At that time, 507 was still one of the PLA units, so I guess the two in military hats on the top right are the scientists from 507.

Subjects perform a space drink drinking experiment in a low-pressure simulation chamber.

At the same time, research on IVA suits were also underway. At first, the development of the IVA suits was assigned to the research laboratory of life support systems engineering for research. But after a period of events, it became clear that the matter was in fact extremely closely related to space medicine. So in order to allow a better integration of medicine and engineering, the development of the IVA suits was transferred from the engineering research labs to the medical research labs to undertake. The helmet, gloves and the body of the space suit were developed separately.

The general technical specifications at the time included the astronauts wearing space suits throughout the mission. This would have considered the factors of eating and drinking and head and oral hygiene (sounds bit strange now). They then designed and researched 3 models of helmets based on the characteristics of the Chinese head shape. The outer shell is made of fibreglass, which is light, strong, non-deforming, protects against collisions and vibrations, and has better sound and heat insulation.The production research team has improved the machining process in order to make the neck loop part of the helmet that connects to the space suit absolutely airtight. This technology also provided a very important foundation for the Shenzhou programme decades later.

The body and glove parts they found Ge Shenran, a tailor by trade who had worked on the G-suits used by pilots. "He never went to school, and he didn't have any degree, but this man was particularly good at research. He would take one look at you and make you a suit that fit perfectly without any measuring. At that time, whenever the leaders of the military and science committees needed to go abroad, they asked him to make some suits." said by Chen Jingshan, who from Institute of Aerospace Medical Engineering, "he can't speak any foreign languages, so spent his days puzzling over photographs of space suits published in the US. The photograph is flat, and he always imagines this flat surface as being three-dimensional. He made a dummy out of crushed straw paste, and when it was done, he put the boxing paper on the exterior, and when it was done, he removed the paper shell and made it flat. This practice was done by Ge himself running to a toy doll factory to borrow their production methods." One of the key technologies for space suits is the airtight zip. Ge Shenran went to the Shanghai Zipper Factory and the Shanghai Abrasives Factory and brought in some of the most skilled teachers to work on it. Two years later, the airtight zip for the IVA suit was produced, filling a technical gap in this technology in China at the time.

The IVA suits were made two sets in total. And all of them were finished wind tunnel experiments. Complies with the overall proposed ejection life-saving air pressure of 6000kg/m² of impact per hour. Human observation at ground for 18 hours at a pressurised value of 30.7 kPa showed that the heat dissipation requirements were met, and that the limb movement performance could meet the overall requirements. The shortcomings are the poor glove mobility performance. 

"In terms of comparative construction and performance of the suit, the Shuguang IVA suit was equivalent to the early American ‘Gemini’ suit, and somewhat better than the 'Vostok' IVA suit adopted by the Soviet Union at the time," the author writes.

Spoiler

The development of the IVA suit was confirmed in 1970.

Experiments with low-pressure variable temperature chamber

Researchers and workers are working together on a technological research of the neck ring of the helmet

Research of the glove forming process for use in space suits. The right is Ge Shenran

IVA suit system's full costume connection experiment

In addition to food and clothing, there was another question: how much air pressure should we use in the cabin of the spaceship? One school of thought thinks we should take the American experience: one third of an atmosphere. This pressure would allow for simple regulation of cabin air pressure and a smaller pressure differential between the inside and outside of the cabin, allowing for smaller gas leaks in the cabin. Also, the astronauts don't need to inhale oxygen and expel nitrogen before wearing the low-pressure spacesuit. The other school of thought is that the Soviet experience of one atmosphere of pressure should be adopted. This way there is still the IVA suit for secondary protection in the event of a loss of pressure in the event of an emergency leading to a leak in the hull. Moreover, this has been proven to be more effective by repeated Soviet practice.

Then there is another school of thought which argues that neither the Soviet nor the American experience is desirable because China has its own special circumstances. Firstly, to prevent decompression sickness, the working pressure of the space suits couldn't fall below one half of an atmosphere. The limited scientific capacity at the time made it impossible to develop a space suit that could work at high pressure. If the option of one-half atmosphere in the cabin had been adopted, the working pressure of the space suits would have been 30.65 kPa. Secondly, the one-half-atmosphere solution met the needs of Chinese rockets. At that time China did not have the capacity to send a 4m³ capsule into space. If the air pressure were reduced, it would mean that the gas storage structure could be reduced, freeing up more valuable space for the spacecraft. Thirdly, astronauts are perfectly adapted to living and working in an environment of one-half atmosphere pressure. The Americans have proved that astronauts don't react badly at one-third of an atmosphere, so it is even less likely that they will at one-half of an atmosphere. Finally, if the Soviet one-atmosphere solution is adopted, then it will inevitably be necessary when the cabin structure is more robust. One-third of an atmosphere would have required a filling with pure oxygen, and not to mention the negative effects that pure oxygen would have had on the human body, the lessons of Apollo 1 alone prevent us from adopting this solution. In the end, the one-half-atmosphere solution was adopted: it combined the best of both American and Soviet pressure solutions and met the needs and technical constraints of China at the time.

The ejection seat was also studied and tested for the emergency invacuate from the spaceship. The most advanced ejection seat technology available in China at the time was the ejection seat with cockpit cover from the MiG-21. However, as the size was not suitable for the sitting height of Chinese pilots, there were a number of accidents in which the cockpit cover was snapped into the seat during emergency ejection, resulting in the death of the pilot by crushing the vertebrae in his head. The J-6 aircraft (which was the MiG19 imported and licensed from the Soviet) also had a poor success rate in saving lives with its ejection seat. Therefore, an objective and urgent need to rapidly improve the Soviet ejection seats. After extensive ejection tests on animals, dummies and cadavers, which proved that the life-saving requirements could be met, it was agreed, after much debate, to carry out the first ejection test on an aircraft on 28 February 1973. The experiment was a success. And in addition to doing wind tunnel experiments on rats, dogs, pigs, monkeys and dummies, the experimenters also took on the task of being subjects themselves, subjecting themselves to powerful air waves and obtaining a large amount of realistic human data.

Spoiler

The 'exerciser' has been fixed ready for ejection tests.

The 'exerciser' was doing the ejection impact experiment in the impact tower

A vibration test to understand brain function and electroencephalographic changes in human beings in a state of violent vibration.

In June 1970, the General Staff Department of the PLA approved the formation of the 507's astronaut training program, and on 14 July 1970, President Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai and the Central Military Commission approved the "Shuguang-1 project". The launch was scheduled for 1973. Project code 714 which named by the date that the project been approved.

A preliminary selection of 215 air force pilots was then made from a pool of some 1,840, and after a round of screening, an initial selection of 88 qualified individuals was made. The final astronaut re-election took place in Beijing from 11 January to 28 May 1971. One pilot became ill and did not take part in the next re-election, while the other 87 pilots who had passed the preliminary selection were gathered in a small, tightly closed building at the Beijing Air Force Hospital. Under strict security, the only thing the pilots knew was the medical examination, but nothing else was known or allowed to be asked about.

Spoiler

In April 1977, researchers were conducting performance tests on a gas water evaporator assembly.

The first pilots to be selected for training for the Shuguang

Examination of brain function after transient cerebral anaemia in humans by using the standing bed.

Edited January 2, 2023 by steve9728
I think maybe the author of this book made a mistake with the year.

[steve9728]

Final Chapter: Fiery Vajra 

(Honestly I don't know how to translate that properly, the exact word in Chinese is 烈火金刚. It's reference to the difficult training experienced by these astronauts and 'exercisers' who were trained but never went on a mission)

After a final selection process, 20 astronauts were chosen. They are:

Dong Xiaohai, Fang Guojun, Wang Quanbo, Du Xiancheng, Wang Fuquan, Wang Zhiyue, Shao Zhijian, Liu Guangze, Liu Zhongyi, Liu Yuwang, Ma Shi, Fu Qingyuan, Chang Qinglan, Liu Qifa,  Chen Xianfen, Ma Yunjing, Zhang Liucheng, Hu Zhanzi, Chen Jinlin, Meng Senlin

People who been selected need weightlessness training, and weightlessness training requires aircraft. At first the Trident, which had just been imported, was considered; after all, there was enough space inside, and people could certainly float. But the idea was put off because of the prohibitive cost and the fact that they were all planes used by national leaders. At the end of January 1969, with the approval of the Central Military Commission, the Air Force's Flight Test Institute converted a freshly built JJ-5 (a two-seat version of the MiG 15 trainer) into a weightless test aircraft. It was retrofitted with a pressure supply system for fuel and lube and sensors for the test pilot to maintain weightlessness for observation and recording. Weightlessness can last for more than 35 seconds.

Spoiler

The astronauts who passed the selection were training

The weightless training aircraft. The fourth and sixth from the left are pilots participating in the astronaut selection process.

Overweight moments on a weightless aircraft. Exerciser with a depressed expression.

And in fact, a platoon (around 30) of people called exercisers underwent the same astronaut selection exercise experience before the astronaut selection training. They select the best young people in their 20s from all over the country, replacing about a third of them every year. The word "Exerciser" in Chinese is "锻炼员", is a word I never seen at all without looking at this history. "Their main task is to do simulated astronauts for the confirmation of astronauts in space and to summarise in these experiments the endurance and adaptability of humans to the various environments of space. To propose parameters of human life support systems for the study of spacecrafts." Their day-to-day life then consists of a series of experimental training exercises in overweight, weightless, heat, cold, high and low air pressure, noise, life-saving systems at sea and eating, drinking and sleeping in various environments. This includes, but not limited to, the completion of 40 days of simulated living experiments in the space-constrained spacecraft simulation chamber. And some persisted for eight years.

"It was hard but interesting to see that several of the exercisers later had twins. Someone asked the platoon leader of the training platoon at the time why, and the platoon leader himself didn't know, 'Maybe the lads were in good health, or else those special circumstances played a part?'. At this point someone joked, 'Ha, how clear it is! It's all from the centrifuge!'"

Spoiler

The exerciser stepping out of the experimental chamber

A group photo of all the participants after a simulated astronaut emergency return to the sea salvage rescue test in November 1969 in collaboration with the North Sea Fleet.

The exercisers lying down in the seat of centrifuge and preparing for the test.

After years of efforts, 507 from weak to strong, the best talents from all over the country gradually formed has been multidisciplinary, medical engineering combined with a strong solution to practical problems of science and technology team. More than 100 different specialities have been involves, encompassing almost all the main specialities of a polytechnic university: the scientific staff in the institute is something that no university can produce. In ten years, more than 300 research topics have been opened, more than 15,000 human experiments have been carried out, and a large number of rare and valuable results have been achieved. And just as everyone was moving forward with hope, Lin Biao, the Minister of National Defence, defected. And his son, who was also one of those responsible for the coup, was the deputy head of the PLAAF Command office: everything about 'something can fly' all have his 'fingerprints' on it. 

Needless to say, these were still "crazy times", when the political storm in the air force inevitably hit 507. And objectively China needed a lot of money for research in many areas, both civilian and military: from fertiliser, which farmers needed urgently, the dams to protect flood-prone areas and urbanisation, to nuclear powered submarines, missiles and nuclear weapons. 

Shuguang Project, was cancelled. Fortunately, because of its outstanding contribution, the 507, which was on the verge of being abolished, wasn't abolished by numerous explanations and admonitions with the higher authorities and leaders. Unfortunately, however, to free up funds for "more urgent projects", the scientific units of the manned space project were drastically downsized and their funding cut. The mission of 507 shifted from Shuguang's spacecraft research to the pre-research of aerospace medical science engineering in August 1978. The focus is geared towards serving the PLA's weapons and equipment development and addressing the urgent needs of conventional weapons and equipment development. Such as the artillery noise protection earmuffs, which are in similar field with astronaut communication helmets it needed. 

By later, on 21 September 1992, the Shenzhou project was adopted by the Central Politburo. The story of what further happened is then witnessed by all. Wang Zhiyue, the one of the pilots been selected to astronaut training, said: "I also was an astronaut and Yang Liwei (the first Taikonaut who reached the space) and I look very much alike: not only in height but also in build. Many people say that the picture of Yang in his spacesuit is almost identical to me in my flight suit back then.  When I'm watching the live of Shenzhou-5 launch, I don't know what I was feeling, except that I felt like Yang and I were in a space suit together, in a spaceship together, travelling through space for 24 hours together, and coming back safely together. That's when I stopped regretting the medical examination that went nowhere."

 

Nowadays, Shuguang become the calling code of astronaut support system team in ground control. Now when I'm watching the videos about CSS and Shenzhou, when the crew reporting to the ground control and the feedback from astronaut support system team said "Shuguang Copied", I just want to thank for those pioneers forgotten by many people who "carved their glory into the constellations of the motherland".

Edited January 3, 2023 by steve9728

[SunlitZelkova]

@steve9728 Thank you for the translations! This has been an amazing source of info!

[steve9728]

RTHK: Hong Kong has completed the first round of selection of payload specialists for recommendation to CNSA. They are 20 men and 20 women, of whom 40% are from local universities and 60% are from government research and development centres, Productivity Council, research institutes and enterprises from Science Park and Cyberport, and Hospital Authority etc. Sun Dong, the Secretary for ITIB said he hoped that at least one of them can become the payload specialist.

Previously in October last year: Sun Dong said the ITIB has received 120 applications. 60% of applicants were male and 40% were female. 50 of them are from the local universities, 22 from the 5 different research centres sponsored by government and Productivity Council, 8 from research institutes and enterprises from Science Park and Cyberport, 28 from various government departments and 12 from other research institutes and enterprises. "This 120 people were highly professional, with over half coming from biology, medical engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering. And others from physics, chemistry, psychology and astronomy."

 

Just don't know did any progress to the selection in Macau which at another side of the Pearl River. Currently can't find any news from there about that.

[steve9728]

 

And those HET on Tianhe were ignited!

 

 

[SunlitZelkova]

14 hours ago, steve9728 said:

 

And those HET on Tianhe were ignited!

 

 

Does Tianhe only have those ion engines for experimental purposes, or are they actually the main orbital adjustment system?

[steve9728]

10 hours ago, SunlitZelkova said:

Does Tianhe only have those ion engines for experimental purposes, or are they actually the main orbital adjustment system?

Those HET will be (or actually it's already) the main engines to maintain the orbit in future to save more fuel. The HETs are normally used to daily maintain orbital altitude and the 'traditional' rocket-fuelled engines are used only in the event of unexpected such as the two "little unpleasant" with Starlink.

Add: Station will also require some adjustment in short time before the docking of Tianzhou and Shenzhou. Those rocket-fuelled engines on Tianhe I think it would also ignite for this.

The experimental electric propulsion was already test on SJ-9A in 2012. The information I can found is it take two types engines: one is the HET-40 from 801 Institue and another one is LIPS-200 using mercury ion electric propulsion technology from 510 Insitute. "All have completed their first time working in orbit, with over 200 starts and a cumulative working time more than 1800 minutes." ('40' of HET-40 means it can provide 40 mN trust and the HET engines on Tianhe are HET-80)

 

 

Edited January 5, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

 

Good news after the bad one. 

To be honest, I thought it was an aircraft carrier when I first saw the picture before I read the text

[steve9728]

Think it will be the CNSA's first rocket launch in 2023

Edited January 6, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

An article about sending a SAR satellite to Venus: Venus Volcano Imaging and Climate Explorer Mission (of course it's Chinese)

Simply put, the mission is about sending a 1~10m resolution, 10km wide SAR satellite to 350km circular orbit of Venus (LVO?)

"The VOICE mission will achieve an increase in SAR resolution from Magellan's 120-300 m to 30 m globally and in key regions and 1-10 m locally, with the capability to detect multiple polarization information, and will be able to answer the following scientific questions about the evolution of geological/tectonic mechanisms.

(1) whether active volcanoes currently exist on Venus. High-resolution radar data, combined with near-infrared "window" imaging and changes in the atmospheric composition of Venus detected in the UV-IR band, can be used to pinpoint volcanic eruption sites and geomorphological features.

(2) In addition to fine-scale detection of the geomorphological details of large coronal formations and thus deciphering their genesis, the scientific data obtained from SAR can be used to reveal smaller volcanoes or geomorphological features associated with 'hotspots', contributing to the understanding of Venus' mantle column-lithosphere interactions on a global scale. -Lithospheric interactions and provide constraints on the thermodynamic and thermal evolutionary features and history of the Venusian interior.

(3) Exploring the discovery of unknown Venusian volcanic landform features and revealing volcanic landform types and eruption mechanisms. Data obtained from high-resolution SAR can help to analyse differences in features such as surface roughness between lava flows, determine eruption time series, search for young volcanic activity, and understand the thermal evolutionary history of Venus."

"Payloads and performance of surface topography surveys of Venus:

PolSAR: compared to historical and future highest resolution radar imaging to date compared to other international Venus missions; design resolution 1 to 10 m

Payloads and performance of atmospheric and climate soundings of Venus:

MWRS: The first global atmospheric microwave millimetre wave observations of Venus (penetrating clouds). Uniqueness: no similar payloads have been carried by historical and future international Venus missions, and their orbiters cannot achieve quantitative detection of the sub-cloud atmosphere.

1. observation of gas molecules such as PH3, NH3, SO2, H2O, CO, and atmospheric temperature.
2. observation of surface temperature with a measurement accuracy of 2K.
3. measurement of atmospheric temperature from 0 to 60 km (downward-looking mode).
4. measurement of atmospheric composition from 0 to 150 km (downward + proximity mode).

UVN-MSI: performance specifications are comparable to those of other historical and future international Venus missions. Enables full atmospheric imaging, surface window imaging, and lightning detection. Resolution: 3 km/20 km"

Edited January 6, 2023 by steve9728

[steve9728]

The robotic arm at Wentian module (the smaller one) has been move to Mengtian module days ago.

And this is for reason: today it grabbed an energy particle detector from the payload airlock and mounted to the exposure platform at Mengtian module. This payload is designed to achieve efficient neutron measurements and high precision n/γ screening by using the new material CLYC (Cs₂LiYCl₆:Ce) applied in the field of space exploration. "Energy particle detectors are used to monitor the energy, flux and direction of energetic proton electrons, heavy ions and neutrons in the orbit of the space station, as well as the LET spectrum and dose rate of the radiation they produce, providing key reference parameters for space station safety, astronaut exits, space materials and biological experiments, with significant scientific research and application value." 

And the detector itself:

via. https://weibo.com/1971177973/Mnnfrm8m1

If memory serves, this would also be the first use of the cargo airlock in CSS

[steve9728]

Three satellites: Shiyan-23, Shiyan-22A/B. "Shiyan" (试验) means Experiment, and "Shijian" (实践) means Practices. The Shijian-23 is also the heaviest satellite ever launched by CNSA on a medium-sized high orbit launch vehicle. Wei Yuanming, the head designer of CZ-7A said that, the satellite envelope will continue to increase with the development of high orbiting satellites. The current generation of medium-sized rockets with a 4.2m diameter fairing can no longer meet the development needs of subsequent missions, and the Chang Qi A rocket will form an improved version capable of adapting to a 5.2m diameter fairing by replacing the three sub-stages. The Long 7A can currently produce 4-6 rounds per year and is expected to reach 8-10 rounds per year by 2025.

 

8 satellites in one day. 

 

Nantong High School Sat is a nanosat developed by Shanghai VSAT Company, with the participation of students and teachers from Nantong High School, and the main application user is Jiangsu Province Survey and Mapping Institute. "The satellite is designed for global broadcasting, deep space observation and Earth observation, and operates at an altitude of 700 km in sun-synchronous orbit. It is loaded with an eight-channel full-spectrum camera and X-band communication system, which can observe the aurora phenomenon emitted due to the influence of solar activity on the Earth, and transmit the detection data obtained back to the ground; at the same time, it has the capability of ultra-wide image capture, with the basic parameters of 100km width and 15m resolution, and the parameters can be adjusted in orbit, and the performance has reached the international mainstream level, which can adapt to the subsequent large-scale network observation needs. In addition, the star has the function of playing school songs in Nantong High School, and has on-board experimental facilities, so that students of Nantong High School can carry out experiments in high school physics and other subjects through the measurement and control platform." 

Meanwhile it's also the first satellite of VSAT's "2050 Constellation Program": Launching of 108 satellites designed with the participation of 108 secondary schools and forming a constellation of satellites in orbit. VSAT also provide several free places for secondary schools in disadvantaged areas. The funny thing is, the info I can found is in 2019, the local media said that the Nantong High School Sat would been launched at 2020. The secondary schools in China are a three-year school system, which means three years for middle and three years for high school. This secondary school is a high school only, which means the kid entering in 2019 have now graduated from that school and are starting their second year at university.

 

Add: the nearest camera at CZ-7 launch site: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1K3411U732/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=6fef304b8d0c4737896e6b702ddfbfb3

Edited January 9, 2023 by steve9728
Official media reporting gone wrong

[steve9728]

fully 2:40 video: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1RG4y157dN/?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0&vd_source=6fef304b8d0c4737896e6b702ddfbfb3

00:44: researchers on ground prepared New Year's Day "Blind Boxes" for astronauts in advance.

Edited January 9, 2023 by steve9728