Category: remote sensing satellite

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 |#WenchangSpacecraftLaunchCenter #文昌航天發射場 #BRI #July2024 | Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center, #长征十二号 #ChangZheng12 #LongMarch12 Yao 1  will become China’s most powerful single-core rocket for low-orbit transport…

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2024 is another year of progress for China, People’s Republic of China China’s space industry, with about 100 orbital launches planned for the whole year. At the same time, many rocket models will have their first flights this year, and the national team’s “Long March” series of rockets will also have their first flights, including the “Long March 6C” (already launched), “Long March 12” and “Long March 8A”. The “Long March 12” is the most special one among them, and it will be the first carrier rocket with a diameter of 3.8 meters among the “Long March” rockets.

China’s most powerful single-core rocket for low-orbit transport…

The Long March 12 (LM-12/CZ-12) is a new generation of carrier rocket developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is a medium-sized cryogenic liquid carrier rocket with a two-stage tandem configuration. The first and second stages are all powered by liquid oxygen-kerosene engines. The rocket was originally the Eighth Academy’s bid for a new generation of manned carrier rockets, and was later renamed XLV20. The original 5CBC configuration (5 cores in parallel for the takeoff stage) was changed to a single core stage configuration.

The first stage of the Long March 12 has four main engines

The first stage of the Long March 12 is equipped with four YF-100K liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, using an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle, using pump-back swing, supporting bidirectional swing of ±8 degrees, and a thrust adjustment range of 65%~105%. The sea level thrust of a single engine is about 128 tons (1250 kN), and the sea level specific impulse is 301.84 seconds. The second stage is equipped with two YF-115 liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, using an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle, supporting bidirectional swing of ±4 degrees, a thrust adjustment range of 80%~100%, a vacuum thrust of about 18 tons (180 kN), and a vacuum specific impulse of about 342 seconds.

“Long March 12” joint archery practice (Photo source: Weibo 
@曹梦-Aerospace ​​​

The Long March 12 rocket is 59 meters high, with a first and second stage diameter of 3.8 meters. It can be equipped with optional fairings with diameters of 4.2 meters and 5.2 meters. It has a takeoff mass of 433 tons and a maximum takeoff thrust of about 510 tons (5,000 kilonewtons). The rocket has a carrying capacity of no less than 10 tons in a low-Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 300 kilometers and a carrying capacity of no less than 6 tons in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an altitude of 700 kilometers.

The Long March XII rocket is the first 3.8-meter-diameter model of the Long March rocket. It will also become China’s single-core-stage carrier rocket with the largest takeoff mass and the strongest low-orbit carrying capacity in service.

The first flight of the YF-100K engine!

On April 28, 2024, the YF-100K liquid oxygen-kerosene engine developed by the Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation completed a four-engine parallel ignition test. The total thrust of the engine exceeded 500 tons. This was the first large-thrust liquid oxygen-kerosene engine four-engine parallel ignition test, and the four-engine parallel scheme was fully verified.

YF-100K test run picture

The YF-100K was born with the proposal of China’s manned lunar landing plan and the need to demonstrate the new generation of manned carrier rockets. It is based on the improvement and optimization of the YF-100. This engine is the main power of China’s new generation of manned carrier rocket “Long March 10”. It adopts pump back swing. Compared with the YF-100 in use, it has the advantages of small mass eccentricity, small swing envelope, and easy layout of swing components.

The maiden flight of the Long March 12 rocket is also the maiden flight of the YF-100K engine, which will test its performance in actual launches and accumulate flight samples for the main power of the Long March 10 takeoff stage. At the same time, the YF-100K will pave the way for the improvement and upgrading of the new generation of carrier rockets currently in service, such as the Long March 5, whose four boosters are equipped with a total of 8 YF-100 engines. By replacing them with the YF-100K engines with better performance, the rocket will further release its already powerful carrying capacity.

Joint archery training of Long March XII

China’s Hainan commercial space launch site launches first rocket

It is expected that in August 2024, the Long March 12 (Yao-1) carrier rocket will carry out its maiden flight at the No. 2 station of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center in China, and China’s new generation of carrier rockets will welcome a new member. At the same time, this is also the first rocket launch of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center, which means that China’s first commercial space launch center has officially been put into use.

In addition to launching from Hainan Commercial Aircraft Corporation, the Long March 12 can also be transported by rail to a land launch site to carry out launch missions, which will help the rocket quickly form a batch launch capability, support launches into sun-synchronous orbits and low-Earth orbits, and be used for low-orbit satellite constellation launch missions such as StarNet.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 | #BRI #July2024|#太原卫星发射中心#TaiyuanSatelliteLaunchCenter  – Advance  International Iconic #长征六号 #ChangZheng6A #LongMarch6A  Y7  Deploying # Tianhui-5 satellite group 02 #Satellite #ASummary

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At 0649 Morning Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time5th July 2024 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration   Successfully launched  Chang Zheng – Long March 6A Yao 7 Carrier Rocket ignited and took off at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Shanxi Province..  Successfully launch China successfully launched the Tianhui-5 satellite group 02

At 6:49 am on July 5, 2024, Beijing time, China successfully launched the Tianhui-5 satellite group 02 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center using the Long March 6 modified carrier rocket. The satellite successfully entered the predetermined orbit and the launch mission was a complete success. The satellite mainly carries out tasks such as geographic information surveying and mapping, land and resources surveys, and scientific experimental research. The Tianhui-5 satellite group 02 and the Long March 6 modified rocket were both developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

This launch is the 527th launch…of the Long March series of carrier rockets

长征六号 Chang Zheng – Long March 6A Y7 Carrier Rocket optimized the final stage passivation process and improved the safety of the final stage in orbit. Compared with the previous mission, this mission has improved the test and launch plan and standardized various operations at the launch site, reducing the test and launch process in the launch area by 2 days and further shortening the launch cycle.

It is understood that for launch missions with orbital altitudes above 800 kilometers, starting the second-stage engine twice can significantly increase the carrying capacity. In order to meet the launch requirements of such satellites and enhance mission adaptability, the Chang Zheng – Long March 6A Y7 Carrier Rocket  began the development work related to the second-stage double start as early as 2018. “In the second half of this year, the Chang-liu modified rocket will conduct its first flight in a two-stage two-start state.” the Aerospace Science and Technology Group revealed to Long March.

Currently, the Changliu rocket is still carrying out demonstration work on the satellite fairing scheme with a diameter of 5.2 meters, which will provide a larger envelope space for the satellite and further improve mission adaptability. “In the future, the Chang Zheng – Long March 6A Y7 Carrier Rocket will also undertake more satellite launch missions to meet more satellite launch needs.” Xiang Changzheng said.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 |#BRI #July2024| #Shenzhou18 crew announcement schedule Second #EVA #Spacewalk #Tiangong #ChinaSpaceStation of working outside…  #ASummary

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On the day of  2nd July  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 astronaut crew# will carry out the second extravehicular activity at an appropriate time in the near future ….

Since successfully completing the first extravehicular activity on May 28, 2024 Beijing time, the Shenzhou 18 astronaut crew has successively completed the maintenance of the space station experimental cabinet and component installation, space station cabin environment monitoring, and preparation for the second extravehicular activity. The experimental projects in the fields of space materials science, space life science, and aerospace medicine undertaken are progressing steadily.

At present, the Shenzhou 18 astronaut crew is in good condition, the space station complex is operating stably, and the “post-80s” crew will carry out the second extravehicular activity at an appropriate time in the near future.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration  

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 |#BRI #June2024| #酒泉卫星发射中心 #JiuquanSatelliteLaunchCenter – #中国航天科技集团#ChinaAerospaceScienceAndTechnologyCorporation  – China’s first 10-kilometer-class vertical take-off and landing flight test of a #ReusableCarrierRocket was a complete success…

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[China’s first 10-kilometer-class vertical take-off and landing flight test of a reusable carrier rocket was a complete success]

On June 23rd 2024, China’s first 10-kilometer-class vertical take-off and landing flight test of a reusable carrier rocket was a complete success. The rocket was developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

 At about 1300 hours Beijing Time, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China , a 3.8-meter-diameter reusable carrier rocket new technology verification arrow was erected on the launch pad. Three variable thrust liquid oxygen-methane engines were ignited, spewing blue tail flames. The rocket body rose to an altitude of about 12 kilometers. The central engine adjusted the thrust, and the rocket descended in a controlled manner. At 50 meters from the ground, the four landing legs unfolded, and then the rocket slowly descended, approaching zero altitude, and landed steadily on the recovery field, achieving a fixed-point vertical soft landing.


This test is currently the largest-scale vertical take-off and landing flight test of a reusable carrier rocket in China, and it is also the first application of the domestically developed deep variable thrust liquid oxygen-methane engine in a 10-kilometer-class return flight.
The entire test took about 6 minutes. The rocket went through five stages: accelerated ascent, decelerated ascent, accelerated descent, decelerated descent, and slow descent, achieving “take-off, accurate control, unfolding, and stable landing”.

[Take off, control accurately, deploy, and land steadily! China’s first 10-kilometer-level vertical take-off and landing flight test of a reusable carrier rocket was a complete success]

Three variable thrust liquid oxygen-methane engines were ignited, spewing blue tail flames. The rocket body rose to an altitude of about 12 kilometers. The central engine adjusted the thrust, and the rocket descended in a controlled manner. At 50 meters from the ground, the four landing legs unfolded, and then the rocket slowly descended, the altitude approached zero, and landed steadily on the recovery field, achieving a fixed-point vertical soft landing.



The entire test took about 6 minutes. The rocket went through five stages: accelerated ascent, decelerated ascent, accelerated descent, decelerated descent, and slow descent, achieving “take off, control accurately, deploy, and land steadily.”

The test fully verified the 3.8-meter diameter rocket body structure, large load landing cushioning technology, high-thrust strong variable thrust reusable engine technology, dual cryogenic pressurization delivery technology, high-precision navigation guidance control technology for return and landing, and health monitoring technology, laying a technical foundation for the first flight of a 4-meter-class reusable carrier rocket as scheduled in 2025. This test is currently the largest-scale vertical take-off and landing flight test of a reusable carrier rocket in China, and it is also the first application of the domestically developed deep variable thrust liquid oxygen-methane engine in a ten-Kilometer-class return..


The test fully verified the 3.8-meter-diameter rocket body structure, large-load landing buffer technology, large-thrust strong variable thrust reusable engine technology, dual low-temperature pressurization delivery technology, high-precision navigation guidance control technology for return and landing, and health monitoring technology, laying a technical foundation for the first flight of a 4-meter-class reusable carrier rocket as scheduled in 2025.


The apex of the flight profile of this test is the stratosphere at an altitude of about 12 kilometers. Subsequently, the research and development team will carry out a 70-kilometer-level vertical take-off and landing test of a reusable carrier rocket, which will basically cover the flight profile of the first stage of the rocket, and take another big step towards the goal of the first flight of a reusable carrier rocket.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 |#BRI June2024 |#西昌衛星發射中心 #XichangSatelliteLaunchCenter – #AstronomySatellite #Satellites  Sino-French #SVOM Space-based Multi-band Astronomical Variable Object Monitor launched  with advance #ChangZheng2C #LongMarch2C CarrierRocket ..  #ASummary

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On the 22nd June 2024 schedule to launch  CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China 1500 Hours Hong Kong –Beijing Time China- People’s Republic of China…. at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province.

Long March 2C rocket successfully launches Sino-French astronomical satellite…… On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, at 15:00 on June 22, the Long March 2C carrier rocket, developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, ignited and took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, and then successfully sent the Sino-French astronomical satellite into the predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success.


The Sino-French Astronomical Satellite is a space science satellite jointly demonstrated and developed by China and France. It is the satellite with the strongest multi-band comprehensive observation capability of gamma-ray bursts in the world to date, and will play an important role in scientific discoveries in the field of space astronomy such as gamma-ray burst research. The Xi’an Branch of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation undertook the development task of the satellite’s data transmission subsystem.


This launch is the 525th launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets

The CATCH project of the Hunter Constellation for Tracking All-Variable Sources was proposed by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It aims to conduct multi-target, uninterrupted, and multi-parameter observations of massive variable sources. The CATCH-1 satellite is the first test satellite of the constellation. It is developed by the Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Its main task is to conduct in-orbit verification of space technologies such as lightweight X-ray focusing mirrors, silicon drift detector systems, remote sensing cameras, satellite rapid steering capabilities, high-precision extension mechanisms, and intelligent control. It also cooperates with the observation and early warning of the Sino-French astronomical satellite SVOM to quickly carry out opportunity observations and promote subsequent cooperation between China and France. This mission is the 56th satellite launch mission of the Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. So far, it has successfully launched 105 satellites covering communications, navigation, remote sensing, science, micro-nano and other fields.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration