China’s most “senior” carrier rocket in service launches the highest-resolution commercial SAR satellite!
On the day of 9th November 2024 Hours Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China At 1139Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time , the Chang Zheng -Long March 2C carrier rocket successfully launched launches the highest-resolution commercial SAR satellite!.. From The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China..
At 11:39 Beijing time on November 9, 2024, at the 9401 launch station of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the inland northwest China, the “Long March 2C” carrier rocket was ignited and launched, sending four satellites including Aerospace Hongtu PIESAT-2 01~04 into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of about 528 kilometers.
PIESAT-2 01-04 is a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, which is developed by Shanghai Aerospace Technology Company under Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and jointly developed by Aerospace Information Technology Company and Zhuzhou Space Interstellar Satellite Technology Company. This type of satellite is equipped with X-band SAR payload, on-board intelligent processing payload, Beidou short message communication payload, and imaging resolution can reach 0.3 meters (test mode), which is the highest resolution of commercial SAR satellites at present. The positioning accuracy is better than 100 meters. The comprehensive performance of the whole satellite and the application efficiency of constellation networking are at the leading level of domestic commercial SAR satellites. The satellite will be used for high-precision terrain mapping, deformation detection, and three-dimensional stereo imaging and other application needs.
This mission is the first launch of the PIESAT-2 constellation of satellites. The PIESAT-2 constellation plans to deploy 12 X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and 4 C-band SAR satellites, and plans to complete all launch missions in the first quarter of 2025.
The Long March 2C was developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is a medium-sized normal-temperature liquid carrier rocket with a two-stage tandem structure. The rocket is about 42.3 meters long, with a first and second stage diameter of 3.35 meters, a takeoff mass of 241 tons, and a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) capacity of 2.1 tons. This rocket is equipped with a 4.2-meter diameter fairing.
This launch mission used the center load-bearing frame multi-satellite adapter for the first time, which improved the space utilization of the fairing, and applied a new lightweight fairing basket to improve the lifting efficiency. At the same time, this launch mission used unified ground test and launch control equipment for the first time at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which improved the product integration and test and launch automation; promoted job integration and process optimization, and further shortened the test and launch cycle.
The Long March 2C successfully completed its maiden flight on September 9, 1982. It is China’s longest-serving carrier rocket and the country’s first “gold medal rocket.” So far, the Long March 2C rocket has carried out 80 launch missions, 79 of which were successful (including one partial success), with a launch success rate of 98.75%.
This launch is the 6th launch mission of the “Long March 2C” carrier rocket in 2024, the 16th launch of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the 53rd launch mission in China and the 206th orbital space launch in the world.
The Shenzhou 18 mission crew returned home safely with a full load!
On the day of 4th November 2024 Hours Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China At Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time Beijing time Shenzhou 18 Takionaut crew….. Shenzhou 18
At 01:24 morning Beijing time on November 4, 2024, the return capsule of the Shenzhou 18 manned spacecraft carrying Takionauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu landed in the western area of the Dongfeng landing site. At 02:15, all three Takionauts successfully exited the cabin, and the Shenzhou 18 manned flight mission came to a successful conclusion.
“Shenzhou 18” is the 7th manned flight mission of China’s manned space station project and the 5th crew rotation mission, with a mission cycle of half a year. The manned spacecraft was launched at 20:59 on April 25, 2024, and docked at the radial port of the Tianhe module at 03:32 on the 26th. The crew officially started the space station stay. During this mission, the “Shenzhou 18” crew supported more than 90 space science experiments and technical experiments, including life ecology science experiments and material extravehicular exposure experiments, and carried out 2 Takionaut extravehicular activities and supported several cargo extravehicular activities. During the mission, the “Shenzhou 18” crew and astronauts set impressive new records.
China’s longest-flying Takionaut crew
From the launch at 20:59 on April 25 to the return landing at 01:24 on November 4, the Shenzhou 18 crew flew for 192 days, 4 hours and 26 minutes, surpassing the Shenzhou 15 crew to become China’s longest-flying Takionaut crew. The Shenzhou 15 crew was launched at 23:08 on November 29, 2022, and landed at 06:33 on June 4, 2023, with a flight time of 186 days, 16 hours and 35 minutes.
Ye Guangfu becomes China’s Takionaut with the longest cumulative flight time
Astronaut Ye Guangfu has already performed a manned flight mission for the second time. Previously, Ye Guangfu, as Takionaut No. 03, partnered with astronaut No. 01 Zhai Zhigang and astronaut No. 02 Wang Yaping to perform the “Shenzhou XIII” mission. The mission spacecraft was launched at 00:23 on October 16, 2021, and landed at 09:56 on April 16, 2022, with a flight time of 182 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes. Cumulatively, astronaut Ye Guangfu has accumulated 374 days, 13 hours and 59 minutes of flight time, becoming the first Chinese Takionaut to exceed 1 year of cumulative flight time. This is not only a new achievement for astronaut Ye Guangfu himself, but also reflects the achievements made by China’s manned space program in the 32 years since its establishment and implementation.
Ye Guangfu sets a new record for the longest single spacewalk in China
At 10:35 Beijing time on May 28, 2024, Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu, Takionauts of the Shenzhou 18 crew, started the first extravehicular activity of the mission. At 18:58, after 8 hours and 23 minutes of extravehicular operations, the two Takionauts successfully completed the extravehicular activity and returned to the Wentian laboratory module. During this extravehicular mission, Ye Guangfu’s extravehicular time reached 8 hours and 23 minutes, setting a new record for the length of time for a single extravehicular activity by a Chinese astronaut.
After the Takionauts of the Shenzhou 18 return to the ground, they will immediately enter a three to six month post-return recovery phase, and the initial stage of this phase is a few hours of gravity re-adaptation at the landing site. The Shenzhou 18 mission is the 13th manned flight mission of China’s manned space program and the 32nd flight mission of the program.
The Shenzhou 18 manned spacecraft carrying three Takionauts was launched at 20:58 on April 25, 2024, and docked at the radial port of the Tianhe module at 03:32 on the 26th. During this trip, the Shenzhou 18 crew flew for 192 days, 4 hours and 26 minutes, becoming the longest-flying astronaut crew in China to date. During the mission, the crew conducted two extravehicular activities, breaking the record for the time of a single extravehicular activity by Chinese astronauts, completed the installation of space debris protection devices for the space station and multiple cargo extravehicular missions, and successively carried out various tasks such as installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair of equipment inside and outside the cabin. At the same time, the crew also completed space science experiments and technical tests involving basic microgravity physics, space material science, space life science, aerospace medicine, aerospace technology and other fields.
So far, China’s manned flight mission has completed all uplink and downlink work this year. At the same time, China’s manned space station project will also implement the “Tianzhou 8” cargo spacecraft launch mission in the middle of this month, and before that, the “Tianzhou 7” cargo spacecraft will be evacuated from the Chinese space station.
At 0810 Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 22nd October 2024 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration Successfully launched Chang Zheng – Long March 6 yao 13 Carrier Rocket ignited and took off at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Shanxi Province..
Long March 6 carrier rocket successfully launches Tianping-3 satellite At 8:10 a.m. on October 22, the Long March 6 carrier rocket took off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and successfully sent the Tianping-3 satellite into the predetermined orbit. carrying three satellites, namely Tianping 3 A01, B01 and B02, took off and sent the satellites into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).
The Tianping-3 B01 and B02 satellites were developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. This batch of satellites is mainly used for ground radar equipment calibration and radar cross-section (RCS) measurement, providing support for ground optical equipment imaging tests and low-orbit space environment detection and monitoring tests, and providing services for atmospheric space environment measurement and orbit prediction model correction.
The launch mission was a complete success. The Tianping-3 satellite is mainly used for ground radar equipment calibration and RCS measurement, provides support for ground optical equipment imaging tests and low-orbit space environment detection and monitoring tests, and provides services for atmospheric space environment measurement and orbit prediction model correction.
The Long March 6 is a small liquid carrier rocket developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It adopts a three-stage tandem configuration. The first and second stage main engines use cryogenic liquid propellants, liquid oxygen/kerosene, and the third stage main engine uses room temperature liquid propellants, nitrogen tetroxide/undimethylhydrazine. The rocket is 29.932 meters high, with a first stage diameter of 3.35 meters and a takeoff mass of about 102 tons. Its 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) capacity is 1.08 tons.
This rocket is a “de-missionized” rolling batch production product, which effectively shortens the rocket production cycle. At the same time, it is equipped with a fairing and additional power supply interface to meet the “personalized” needs of satellites.
The Long March 6 is the first flight model of China’s new generation of Long March carrier rockets and the only small model. The rocket successfully completed its first flight on September 20, 2015 and has achieved 13 consecutive victories so far, continuing to create the longest winning streak record for a single model of the new generation of Long March liquid rockets.
This launch is the second launch of the Long March 6 carrier rocket in 2024, the 10th launch at the Taiyuan Launch Center, the 50th launch in China and the 192nd orbital space launch in the world.
This launch is the 541st launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets.
On the day of 0745 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 16 October 2024 CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China At 0745 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time , the Chang Zheng -Long March 4BYao 59 carrier rocket successfully launched China’s first reusable recoverable technology test satellite.. From The the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China.. at the 9401 workstation of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest inland China, the Long March 4B Yao 59 carrier rocket carrying the Gaofen 12 05 remote sensing satellite was vertically launched into space, sending the satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).
The satellite and carrier rocket for this mission were developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The Gaofen-12 05 satellite is a large-scale high-resolution remote sensing satellite, which is mainly used in land survey, urban planning, land rights confirmation, road network design, crop yield estimation and disaster prevention and mitigation
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The Long March 4C is a medium-sized normal-temperature liquid carrier rocket with a three-stage tandem configuration. The main power is all nitrogen tetroxide/undimethylhydrazine propellant. The Long March 4C rocket is mainly used for sun-synchronous orbit and low-Earth orbit satellite launch missions. The rocket is 48 meters high, with a diameter of 3.35 meters for the first and second stages, a diameter of 2.9 meters for the third stage, a takeoff mass of 250 tons, and a capacity of 3 tons for a circular sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 700 kilometers. The Long March 4C is the first and only model among China’s normal-temperature liquid rockets equipped with a secondary start-type final stage main engine, and has the ability to launch into high orbit and deep space.
The Long March 4B successfully completed its maiden flight on April 27, 2006. So far, it has carried out 55 launches, 53 of which were successful, with a success rate of about 96%. This launch is 157 days away from the 54th launch of the Long March 4B, which will be carried out on the morning of May 12, 2024.
This launch mission is the second launch of the “Long March 4C” rocket in 2024, the 14th launch of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the 49th launch in China and the 189th orbital space launch in the world.
At 13:40 on September 22, Jiangsu Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. carried out the first high-altitude vertical recovery flight test of Nebula-1 at the Deep Blue Aerospace Ejin Banner Spaceport in Inner Mongolia China, People’s Republic of China … The recyclable and reusable first-stage rocket body had an abnormality during the final landing phase of the flight test, and the test mission was not completely successful. According to the “Nebula-1 First High-altitude Vertical Recovery Flight Test Test Outline”, there are a total of 11 major test verification tasks. In this flight test, 10 of them were successfully completed and 1 was not completed.
China’s first high-altitude recovery flight test of a launch vehicle that can enter orbit…. At 13:00 on September 22, Jiangsu Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. carried out the first high-altitude vertical recovery flight test of Nebula-1 at the “Deep Blue Aerospace Ejin Banner Spaceport” in Inner Mongolia. An abnormality occurred in the recyclable and reusable first-stage rocket body during the final landing phase of the flight test, and the test mission was not completely successful. The core mission objectives of this test are to verify the correctness and coordination of the operation of various systems in the vertical recovery phase after Nebula-1 enters orbit, especially to verify the multi-machine to single-machine variable power operating conditions for the first time in flight, and to accumulate key data for subsequent 100-kilometer recovery flight tests and the final orbital entry + recovery test missions
The Nebula-1 rocket that carried out this flight mission is Deep Blue Aerospace’s first commercial liquid rocket that can enter orbit and be recycled and reused. It is also an important carrier for breaking through and verifying rocket vertical recovery and reuse technology. The Nebula-1 rocket has a body diameter of 3.35 meters and a first-stage height of about 21 meters. It is equipped with the Thunder-R liquid oxygen-kerosene engine, China’s first reusable liquid rocket engine developed fully independently by Deep Blue Aerospace, with more than 90% of the main structure integrally formed using high-temperature alloy 3D printing technology.
This flight test is China’s first high-altitude recovery test of a launch vehicle that can enter orbit. The core mission of the test is to verify the correctness and coordination of the various systems in the vertical recovery phase after the Xingyun-1 enters orbit, especially to verify the multi-machine to single-machine variable power condition for the first time in flight, so as to accumulate key data for the subsequent 100-kilometer recovery flight test and the final orbital entry + recovery test mission.
According to the “Xingyun-1 First High-Altitude Vertical Recovery Flight Test Outline”, the key technical points verified during this test are as follows:
The rocket took off with three engines ignited according to the predetermined procedure. After reaching the predetermined height, the engines on both sides were shut down, and the attitude was stabilized and the ascent was slowed down by relying on the thrust of a single engine. After reaching the highest point, it relied on the thrust adjustment of a single engine to descend smoothly. After moving sideways for about 200 meters, it successfully unlocked, deployed and locked the landing legs at the predetermined height above the recovery site. However, an abnormality occurred during the final landing shutdown phase, resulting in partial damage to the rocket body. The entire flight test lasted 179 seconds. Before shutdown, the error between the rocket body and the theoretical landing point was less than 0.5 meters, and the rocket body finally landed precisely at the center of the recovery site. The flight mission profile of this test was consistent with the predetermined procedure. The entire process of test preparation and implementation was within the scope of the preliminary safety control plan. After the test, post-processing was carried out in accordance with the predetermined emergency response process, and no safety issues occurred throughout the process.
After the test, a preliminary retrospective analysis of the test process data showed that during the final landing shutdown phase, the engine thrust servo followed the control command abnormally, causing the rocket body to land at a height exceeding the design range and partial damage to the rocket body. The Deep Blue Aerospace technical team will complete the mission “zeroing” as soon as possible to lay a solid foundation for the success of subsequent recovery flight tests. Based on the summary of this test and the zeroing of technical faults, Deep Blue Aerospace will perform a high-altitude vertical recovery mission again in November.
This flight test was conducted at the Ejin Banner Spaceport built by Deep Blue Aerospace. The ground equipment, refueling system, and measurement and control system of the test site were all independently developed by Deep Blue Aerospace. The test site is the first fully commercial test site in China that can meet the needs of liquid rocket launches and flight tests. It is located in the heart of the Gobi Desert, adjacent to the Badain Jaran Desert, China’s third largest desert, on the south side. The surrounding area is a vast Gobi Desert uninhabited area, which has inherent safety characteristics. The test area this time points to the uninhabited area in the desert to the south. The test is strictly carried out in accordance with the safety management requirements of rocket tests, and comprehensive risk identification, control, and emergency plans are carried out to ensure the test safety and public safety of this test.
For the first stage of the Nebula-1 orbital rocket, only less than 1/5 of the propellant was added in this test; the precise attitude control of the propellant shallow box in the high-altitude vertical recovery condition was successfully verified. This test used high-precision self-alignment technology based on a dynamic base, as well as takeoff roll-to-launch launch technology, which can meet the full-direction launch requirements without changing the vertical installation state of the rocket. In the future, it can greatly simplify the workload of different flight missions and improve adaptability. This test preliminarily verified the recovery trajectory optimization based on optimal control and the meter-level precision guidance algorithm, and conducted engineering verification for the subsequent orbital entry + recovery optimal control method.
This test is the first time in China that an open-cycle liquid oxygen-kerosene pintle engine has been used to perform a rocket high-altitude recovery test mission. The liquid oxygen-kerosene propellant combination has the characteristics of high comprehensive carrying efficiency, low product cost, safety in use and good maintainability, and is the only choice for liquid recovery rockets for commercial use; but due to the difficulty of kerosene liquid-liquid combustion, smooth thrust regulation and stable combustion have always been the difficulties of kerosene thrust regulation engines. Pintle technology, as the best engineering practice to solve the thrust regulation of kerosene engines, is one of the technical peaks of open-cycle liquid engines. The success of this test is the first time that the Lei Ting-R engine has participated in a flight test. The central engine has carried out thrust regulation throughout the 179s flight. The actual thrust regulation command range is from 110% to 58%, and the thrust regulation accuracy is better than 1%. Under flight conditions, it responds well to step commands with a maximum amplitude of 40%, and the thrust overshoot accuracy is less than 2%.
This test was the first in China to use a landing cushion mechanism (landing legs) developed specifically for orbital-stage rockets for vertical recovery testing. In order to meet the stringent weight requirements of orbital-stage rockets, the mechanism is made of a full carbon fiber structure. In the early stages, single-machine tests of the buffer, single-machine tests of the connection and locking device, a series of deployment and retraction tests of a single leg, and joint deployment and retraction tests of four legs and the rocket body were carried out. Single-machine and system tests. Based on a series of previous tests and improvements, this mechanism is the first landing cushion device product in China to enter engineering applications. At the cost of a weight of no more than 1.2t and less than 10% of the rocket’s empty weight, the first stage of the rocket can land safely and reliably with a total weight of no more than 15 tons, a speed of no more than 3m/s, and an attitude angle of no more than 5° under the condition of carrying the remaining propellant.
In the future, Deep Blue Aerospace will continue to adhere to the serious safety awareness, rigorous and pragmatic scientific attitude, and the pursuit of excellence in innovation, focusing on the fundamental purpose of providing safer, economical, reliable, and high-frequency space transportation services, and accelerate the promotion and realization of the rapid installation of China’s reusable rockets. After accumulating valuable experience this time, Deep Blue Aerospace firmly believes that in the near future, reusable rockets will soar into the sky and help China’s aerospace “increase in volume”.
