At 1:12 am on January 21st, 2025, Hong Kong SAR- Beijing time, after about 8.5 hours of extravehicular activities, Shenzhou 19 crew astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze worked closely together, and with the support of the space station’s robotic arm and ground scientific researchers, completed the installation of the space station’s space debris protection device and the inspection of extravehicular equipment and facilities. Extravehicular astronauts Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong have safely returned to the Wentian laboratory module, and the extravehicular activities were a complete success….
At 1100 Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time on An early morning of 13th January 2025 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration CASC China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Successfully launched the New Next Generation ChinaRocket Co. LTD Smart Dragon – Jielong three Carrier Rocket Yao 5 carrier rocket at the in the waters near Haiyang, Shandong Province, the Smart Dragon Carrier rocket successfully launched from a sea borne mobile launch platform…..
the Jielong-3 carrier rocket developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology ignited and took off from the sea near Haiyang City, Shandong Province. The “one rocket, ten satellites” mode was used to successfully send the ten satellites of Micro-Space 01 group into the predetermined orbit using a one-rocket, ten-satellite method to send 10 satellites of the Microcentispace 01 group into a LEO orbit at an altitude of 650 kilometers and an inclination of 55 degrees. The launch mission was a success. This launch is the first sea launch in China this year, and it also marks the “good start” of China’s commercial space launch this year…
The 10 satellites of the MicrocentiSpace 01 group were developed by Beijing Future Navigation Technology Co., Ltd. Among them, the C0001~C0002 satellites were integrated as a whole by Shenzhen Aerospace Dongfanghong Satellite Co., Ltd. of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The satellites inherited the technical status of the S5 and S6 test satellites developed by Shenzhen Dongfanghong. The construction of the networking satellite constellation system was carried out on the basis of the test satellite’s completion of the full functional status verification of the leading technology, platform and payload.
The other eight satellites were jointly developed by Harbin Institute of Technology and Harbin Institute of Technology Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. They inherited the technical status of the S4 experimental satellite and innovatively adopted a stacked design to achieve decoupling assembly of cabins, making them suitable for mass production of satellites.
The Microcentispace Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Navigation Augmentation System is developed and operated by Future Navigation Technology Co., Ltd. It is a space-ground integrated constellation system consisting of 160 low-orbit satellites and ground systems, which can provide low-cost, highly reliable centimeter-level high-precision positioning commercial services to global users in real time. This mission is the first networking launch of the Microcentispace constellation.
Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) is a medium-sized solid-propellant carrier rocket developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and invested by China Rocket Company under the First Academy. It adopts a four-stage tandem configuration, and the main power all uses solid propellant engines developed by the Fourth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology. The rocket is 31.8 meters long, with a diameter of 2.65 meters for the first and second stages, 2 meters for the third stage, and 1.2 meters for the fourth stage. It can be equipped with a 2.9-meter diameter and a 3.35-meter diameter fairing. It has a takeoff mass of 140 tons and a takeoff thrust of 200 tons. It is launched from the sea. Its capacity for a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) is about 1.5 tons, and its capacity for a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit is about 1.3 tons. This rocket is equipped with a 3.35-meter diameter fairing.
This mission has further enhanced the rocket’s carrying capacity through overall optimization and solid engine performance improvement. It is the mission with the largest payload mass among all previous missions, reaching 1.6 tons.
At the same time, this mission is the first low-inclination orbit launch in the coastal waters of Haiyang, Shandong. The flight area and landing area are safe, which saves the cost of sea voyage, shortens the technical preparation time, improves the economy of the mission, and provides users with a more cost-effective launch service. In addition, this mission also effectively verifies the rocket’s adaptability to the severe cold at sea and the harsh natural environment of high-altitude winds in winter.
This launch mission is the first launch of the Jielong-3 carrier rocket in 2025, the first launch in the Yellow Sea, the second launch in China, and the seventh orbital space launch in the world. At the same time, this mission is also the world’s first solid rocket launch of the year and the world’s first offshore space launch.
On the 7th January 2025 schedule to launch CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China 0400 Hours Hong Kong –Beijing Time China- People’s Republic of China…. at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province of the Xichang Launch Center, the Long March 3B carrier rocket was launched, sending This morning, China successfully launched the Shijian 25 satellite into space using the Long March 3B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite entered the planned orbit smoothly and the launch mission was a complete success. The satellite is mainly used for satellite fuel replenishment and life extension service technology verification..
At 04:00 on January 7, the Long March 3B carrier rocket ignited and took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, and then sent the Practice 25 satellite into its predetermined orbit. This marked a “good start” for China’s space launch mission in 2025.
The Long March 3B rocket, Long March 3A rocket and Long March 3C rocket together constitute the Long March 3A series of rockets, which are developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The Practice 25 satellite is developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
This year, the Long March 3A series of rockets are expected to carry out more than 10 launch missions. The rocket team will continue to improve the rocket’s mission adaptability by promoting de-missionized batch production, cross-parallel working mode, and tightening quality control.
Since August last year, the First Academy has tried to use a professional test and launch team to participate in the Long March 3 series of launch missions, promoting the transformation of the rocket test and launch model from a scientific research model to a professional model, thereby optimizing personnel allocation and freeing up the designer team. After nearly half a year of internship training, 9 positions in the first phase of this launch mission have been taken over, and the optimization of the professional test and launch model will continue to be promoted in the future.
The Shijian No. 25 refueling service aircraft was developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is used for satellite fuel replenishment and life extension services, and provides sufficient energy guarantee for the long-term operation of satellites in orbit. It can carry 1.3 tons of fuel at a time, accounting for 52% of its own weight.
When the refueling service aircraft receives a distress signal from a fuel-shortage satellite, it will, under the guidance of the ground dispatch system and with the help of its front-end navigation system, achieve “automatic driving and door-to-door service.” After arriving near the satellite, the aircraft uses the navigation system to autonomously track and approach the satellite. When the aircraft is within about 2 meters of the satellite, it will cooperate with the robotic arm to achieve precise docking with the satellite’s fuel refueling port, establish a fuel transfer path, and smoothly carry out “space refueling.
During the mission, the launch site test team of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and implemented the spirit of the Ninth Working Conference of the Group Corporation. At the same time, it gave full play to the political function of the party organization, guided the test team members to improve their political stance, bear in mind their mission and responsibilities, and made every effort to ensure the complete success of the launch mission.
This launch is the 555th launch of the Long March series of launch vehicles.
On the 9th December 2024, Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time at CNSA –China National Space Administration– Wenchang Space Craft launch Center the The Long March 8A Yao-1 rocket was loaded and shipped, and will make its first flight early next year] On December 9, the Long March 8A Yao-1 carrier rocket was successfully loaded and headed for the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China. As China’s main rocket for medium and low orbits in the future, the Long March 8A rocket will carry out its first flight mission….
“The Long March 8A rocket is specially developed based on the Long March 8 rocket to meet the future medium and low orbit giant constellation network launch needs.” Song Zhengyu, chief designer of the Long March 8 model, introduced that “the Long March 8A rocket has the characteristics of advanced performance, low cost, high reliability and rapid launch . This maiden flight mission marks the official debut of the Long March 8A rocket, which will make important contributions to China’s low-orbit satellite networking and other tasks . It is of great significance and cannot be missed.”
“The Chang’e-8A rocket embodies the hard work and efforts of the entire team. It took 28 months to develop. So far, 44 large-scale ground tests have been completed and many key technologies have been mastered .” Xiao Yun, chief commander of the Chang’e-8 model, said, “The model team has the confidence and ability to complete this launch mission.”
Before the shipment, the General Design Department, Material Center, Beijing Institute of Space Launch Technology, Tianjin Aerospace Long March Rocket Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and other relevant units worked closely together to efficiently complete the loading of the rocket body and standard containers. At the same time, the Chang-8 Project Office also organized the status monitoring and safety protection of the rocket body to ensure that everything was ready.
Subsequently, all members of the Chang-8A Yao-1 rocket launch team will continue to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping, cooperate with each other and work closely together, treat every detail with a rigorous, cautious and practical attitude, implement the spirit of the ninth working conference of the group company, complete related work with high quality, concentrate their hearts and minds, and work together to ensure the successful completion of the first flight mission.
On CNSA –China National Space Administration …. ChangZheng Long March 12 first flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China At 7:00 am Beijing time on 26 November 2024.. This morning, the Long March 12 Y1 carrier rocket was successfully transferred from the technical area to the launch area at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. It will be launched in the near future. The first flight is a must . The Long March 12 is a new generation of medium-sized carrier rocket in China and also the first 3.8-meter-diameter single-core liquid carrier rocket in China.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
