Construction of Long March 9 has begun!

[xenomorph555]

Um yeah, unexpected:

8.7 M diameter!

[WestAir]

Good job China.

And they wanna build the LM11 in 2 years? We need to team up.

[Giggleplex777]

Are there any more details? Are they going with the RP-1 and LOX with liquid fueled boosters or LH2 and LOX with solid boosters? Or LH2 and LOX with liquid fueled boosters?

[Kryten]

Good job China.

And they wanna build the LM11 in 2 years? We need to team up.

LM-11 is an all-solid LV in the same class as Minotaur, you'd expect it to be very quick.

Are there any more details? Are they going with the RP-1 and LOX with liquid fueled boosters or LH2 and LOX with solid boosters? Or LH2 and LOX with liquid fueled boosters?

All three configurations were officially under consideration, but there's little experience in China with large solids, so that's much less likely than the other two. All configurations share the same tank diameter, so even with this they may not have decided yet.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Kryten

[xenomorph555]

Are there any more details? Are they going with the RP-1 and LOX with liquid fueled boosters or LH2 and LOX with solid boosters? Or LH2 and LOX with liquid fueled boosters?

Boosters: RP1-LOX

1st stage: RP1-LOX

2nd stage: RP1-LOX

3rd stage: LH2-LOX

[check]

Um yeah, unexpected

Major understatement. Do you have any more info on this? A Source, maybe?

[astropapi1]

According to Wikipedia (not a great source for information, I know...) it is supposed to have a capability of 130t to LKO and 50 to TLI. Ares these numbers accurate?

[Kryten]

Major understatement. Do you have any more info on this? A Source, maybe?

http://www.jyds.gov.cn/show.aspx?id=50824&bigclassid

Production of metal rings with a diameter of 8.7m for a new rocket; not explicitly stated, but in the size proposed for CZ-9 and far above anything else.

According to Wikipedia (not a great source for information, I know...) it is supposed to have a capability of 130t to LKO and 50 to TLI. Ares these numbers accurate?

It depends on the configuration chosen, everything so far is provisional; but that seems to be the rough target.

[xenomorph555]

According to Wikipedia (not a great source for information, I know...) it is supposed to have a capability of 130t to LKO and 50 to TLI. Ares these numbers accurate?

It actually got lowered to 100t to LEO and 35t to TLI.

[xenomorph555]

Major understatement. Do you have any more info on this? A Source, maybe?

Well I got tipped off at NSF, from people who saw that article. Whether it's LM-9 or not it's still exciting.

[Tommygun]

Does anyone know what that ring is made of?

[xenomorph555]

Does anyone know what that ring is made of?

They are referred to as an alloy, probably aluminium based.

[sojourner]

Gold that can only be destroyed in the fires of Mt. Doom.

[xenomorph555]

Gold that can only be destroyed in the fires of Mt. Doom.

Hahaha

On a serious note, yes the ring is made of an aluminium based alloy.

[Tommygun]

I didn't realize aluminum came out that white hot.

[xenomorph555]

Also the same new machine that created this ring can also create up to 10 meter diameter rings, faster, cheaper, lighter and stronger then regular welding . The same machines will soon be producing parts for the Long march 5 as well.

[xenomorph555]

I didn't realize aluminum came out that white hot.

It must be incredibly hot, the alloy probably lowers the temperature it would have to be if it was pure alumnium...

[vger]

Gold that can only be destroyed in the fires of Mt. Doom.

Too heavy.

And we're officially out of any future space race. That's a fricking Stargate they've got there.

Edited November 10, 2014 by vger

[magnemoe]

Too heavy.

And we're officially out of any future space race. That's a fricking Stargate they've got there.

Lol, the first thing I thought then I saw the glowing ring was Portal

Then of the boss fight in Portal 2 who has relevance for moon missions