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….
On the day of 12TH December 2024 Hours Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China At 1517 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time , the Chang Zheng -Long March 2D Yao 60 / YZ 3 Yao 5 China successfully launched the high-speed laser diamond constellation test system at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using the Long March 2D carrier rocket/Expedition 3 upper stage. The five satellites successfully entered the predetermined orbit and the launch mission was a complete success. This mission is the 551st flight of the Long March series of carrier rockets…..
[Long March 2D rocket/Expedition 3 upper stage successfully launches high-speed laser Diamond Constellation test system – China launches high-speed laser diamond constellation test system 】
At 15:17 on December 12, the Long March 2D carrier rocket/Expedition 3 upper stage lifted the high-speed laser Diamond Constellation test system and soared into the sky at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Subsequently, the upper stage sent the five satellites of the system into the predetermined orbit respectively, and the launch mission was a complete success. The Long March 2D rocket and the Expedition 3 upper stage were both developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The Long March 2D rocket has the ability to launch single and multiple satellites with different orbit requirements at the three major satellite launch centers in Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang, and its 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit carrying capacity is 1.3 tons. The Expedition 3 upper stage, known as the “space bus”, has the ability to autonomously deploy more than 20 times in rapid orbits, and is mainly used for multi-satellite deployment missions in different orbits.
This launch is the 551st launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets. The Long March 2D carrier rocket is a room-temperature liquid two-stage carrier rocket with a takeoff thrust of about 300 tons, corresponding to a capacity of 1.3 tons for a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous circular orbit. It has the ability to launch single and multiple satellites in accordance with different orbital requirements at the three major satellite launch centers in Jiuquan, Taiyuan, and Xichang. The Expedition 3 upper stage is a new type of space transportation tool that uses nitrogen tetroxide and methylhydrazine as propellants, is equipped with a 5kN main engine and an autonomous navigation and guidance system, and has the ability to autonomously maneuver and deploy more than 20 times in rapid orbits. It is mainly used for multi-satellite deployment missions in different orbits, and can directly send multiple satellites to predetermined space locations. It can also play an important role in rapid and flexible entry into space, space maneuvers, and space utilization.
At morning 10th December 2024 Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration, the Long March 5B Yao-6 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China., On the morning of December 10, 2024 Beijing time, the “Long March 5B” Yao-6 carrier rocket and satellite assembly were vertically transferred from the vertical assembly and test plant to the launch tower on a mobile launch platform, and the launch mission preparations entered the final stage
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
The Long March 5B/Long March 5B (CZ-5B) is a large cryogenic liquid carrier rocket developed for China’s manned space station project, used to launch the main module of the space station. The rocket adopts a one-and-a-half-stage series-parallel configuration, consisting of a core stage and four boosters. It is China’s first one-and-a-half-stage configuration rocket.
Schematic diagram of Long March 5B
The Long March 5B rocket is 53.657 meters long, with a core stage diameter of 5 meters and a booster diameter of 3.35 meters. It is equipped with a large fairing with a diameter of 5.2 meters and a length of 20.5 meters. Its takeoff mass is about 849 tons, its takeoff thrust is about 1,078 tons, and its low-Earth orbit (LEO) capacity reaches 25 tons. In Asia, the Long March 5B is the rocket with the strongest low-Earth transport capacity in service.
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
The envelope diameter of the Long March 5B rocket fairing reaches 4.5 meters, and the volume exceeds 345 cubic meters. This is the fairing with the largest diameter, longest length, and largest envelope space in China’s current service, and one of the fairings with the largest envelope space in the world. With large carrying capacity and a “large cargo compartment”, the Long March 5B rocket can also be used with the Yuanzheng 2 upper stage to carry out large-scale multi-satellite launches, supporting China’s giant satellite constellation network. Once launched, the Long March 5B rocket will become the world’s most powerful carrier rocket for giant constellation network launches
It is expected that on the evening of December 15th to 16th, at the 101 launch site at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China, the Long March 5B Yao-6 carrier rocket/Expedition 2 Yao-2 upper stage will carry out a large-scale multi-satellite launch mission, planning to send the satellites on board into low-Earth orbit.
The payload of this mission comes from the China Star Network Project, which is the China Star Network Low Orbit 01 Group Satellite. China Star Network (SatNet) is a giant satellite constellation in China, including low-orbit and high-orbit satellites, and plans to launch 12,992 satellites. The main body of the China Star Network Low Orbit 01 Group Satellite adopts a trapezoidal design, and its appearance is similar to that of the “One Network” constellation satellite. The constellation satellite using this design needs to be launched using a side-mounted launch based on a central load-bearing cylinder.
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
This launch mission will be the fifth launch of the Long March 5B carrier rocket and the 13th launch of the Long March 5 series of rockets. At the same time, this launch will also be the first time that the rocket has carried out an unmanned space launch mission, which will provide a very scarce large carrying capacity for constellation networking.
On the day of 25 November 2024 Hours Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China At 0739 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time , the Chang Zheng -Long March 2C carrier rocket successfully Deployed 4D Gaojing 2 No. 03 and 04…… At 7:39 on November 25, the Long March 2C carrier rocket ignited and took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and then successfully sent 4D Gaojing 2 No. 03 and 04 into the predetermined orbit in a “two-satellite-in-one-rocket” manner, and the launch mission was a complete success. From technology test satellite.. From The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China..
“Gold Medal Veteran” launches two high-resolution radar satellites for commercial remote sensing constellation”
4D Gaojing 2 No. 03 and 04 are two high-resolution radar satellites of China 4D, which belong to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and were developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The two satellites can provide all-day, all-weather, high-resolution radar images, quickly produce high-precision digital elevation model products (DEM), radar orthophoto products, and D-InSAR deformation monitoring products and services based on time-series radar interferometry. The satellites mainly serve multiple fields such as natural resources, urban safety, emergency management, and marine maritime affairs, providing rich data products and diversified application services.
The 03 and 04 satellites of the Siwei Gaojing-2 are two high-resolution microwave remote sensing satellites of China’s Siwei new generation commercial remote sensing satellite system, developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. From 2022 to the first half of 2024, China Siwei will launch a total of five satellites of three types, optical and radar, and put them into commercial operation.
This batch of satellites is equipped with high-precision phased array radars, which can provide all-day, all-weather, high-resolution radar images, reaching the world’s advanced level. The satellite uses the latest third-generation gallium nitride transceiver (TR), which increases the payload efficiency by 25%. It is also the first domestic platform payload integrated, non-deployed phased array antenna. The phase center stability will be increased by 30% after being in orbit, greatly improving the accuracy of surveying and mapping products. After being in orbit, it will be the first time in the world to realize the 100-meter-level autonomous strict return orbit of commercial satellites and the coordinated control of sub-meter-level flying formations, which can simplify satellite in-orbit manipulation and create a new era of “autonomous driving” for commercial satellites. The satellites mainly serve many fields such as natural resources, urban safety, emergency management, and marine maritime affairs.
The Chang Zheng- Long March 2C carrier rocket is a room-temperature liquid carrier rocket developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This launch is the 547th launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets.
The Long March 2C is a medium-sized liquid-fuel carrier rocket developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It adopts a two-stage tandem structure. The rocket is designed to carry out low-Earth orbit (LEO) and sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) launch missions and is China’s main carrier rocket for such orbital missions.
The Long March 2C rocket is about 42.3 meters long, with a first and second stage diameter of 3.35 meters. It can be equipped with a 3.35-meter and 4.2-meter diameter fairing, 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.
On October 23, November 9 and November 25 this year, within 33 days, the “Long March 2C” rocket carried out three launch missions, fully demonstrating the “gold medal veteran”‘s ability to carry out intensive launches.
This launch mission is the 7th launch of the Long March 2C rocket in 2024, the 18th launch of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the 57th launch in China and the 221st orbital space launch in the world. At the same time, this mission is the last launch of the Long March 2C rocket this year and the 81st launch in total.
On CNSA –China National Space Administration The Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft will be in Readiness From Wenchang Spacecraft launch Center, Hainan province, China, People’s Republic of China.. The November Date of year 2024 towards the Tiangong-China Space Station..
The world’s most powerful cargo spacecraft in service has further improved its carrying capacity!
From 8:00 to 11:00 Beijing time on November 13, 2024, at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan, China, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and the Long March-7 Yao-9 carrier rocket ship-rocket combination were vertically transferred from the vertical assembly and test plant to the launch position. The mission ship-rocket completed the last few kilometers on the ground, waiting for launch this week.
“Tianzhou-8” is an improved version of the “Tianzhou” spacecraft. It is the third ship of the second batch of products after the mass production of the “Tianzhou” spacecraft. It is a fully sealed cargo spacecraft with a double-cabin tandem configuration, including a propulsion cabin and a cargo cabin.
The improved version of the Tianzhou spacecraft is 10.6 meters long, with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters (cargo compartment), a wingspan of 14.9 meters when the solar wing is unfolded, a cargo compartment loading space of 22.5 cubic meters, a loading capacity of 6.7 tons, and a total cargo loading capacity of 7.4 tons including the propulsion compartment tank capacity. The dry mass of the spacecraft is 6.5 tons. The Tianzhou is the world’s most powerful cargo spacecraft in service. Compared with the Tianzhou-6 and Tianzhou-7 spacecrafts, the carrying space of the Tianzhou-8 has increased by more than 200 liters (0.2 cubic meters) and the carrying capacity by more than 100 kilograms (0.1 tons).
Tianzhou is a one-time cargo spacecraft. Even though it has the highest carrying coefficient (carrying efficiency) in the world, it still has a high unit transportation cost, just like other countries’ one-time cargo spacecraft. In order to continuously improve the efficiency of cargo replenishment, Tianzhou cargo spacecraft is constantly being improved and upgraded. By optimizing the space layout and reducing the weight of the spacecraft, Tianzhou has increased the carrying space and carrying weight, and can meet the material needs of the space station for a longer period of time through a single mission, further reducing the operating costs of the space station.
This mission is the second cargo supply mission of China’s manned space program in 2024 and the seventh cargo supply mission of China’s space station. It is planned to provide in-orbit support for the two manned flight missions of “Shenzhou 19” and “Shenzhou 20”.
Before the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft went up, the Tianzhou-7 spacecraft had already withdrawn from the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station, making way for the former’s dedicated docking port for the cargo spacecraft.
At the same time, the crew of the Shenzhou 19 stationed in the space station has completed manual remote control exercises and made full preparations for the ascent of the Tianzhou 8 spacecraft.
“Long March 7 Carrier Rocket successfully launches Tianzhou 8! The Shenzhou 19 crew, get ready to receive the “big gift package”
At 23:13 Beijing Time on November 15 2024, the Long March 7 carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft ignited and took off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province China, People’s Republic of China. . About 10 minutes later, the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. After that, the spacecraft’s solar panels were smoothly deployed, and the launch mission was a complete success. About 3 hours later, the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft will complete rendezvous and docking with the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the space station and transfer to the combined flight phase. Subsequently, the Shenzhou 19 Takionaut crew will enter the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft and carry out related work such as cargo transfer as planned. This launch is the 546th launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets….
天舟八号
[Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft completes rendezvous and docking with space station complex]
The latest news from the China Manned Spaceflight Office; Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft successfully completed state setting after entering orbit, and successfully docked with the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the space station at 02:32 Beijing time today. After the rendezvous and docking is completed, Tianzhou 8 will transfer to the complex flight phase. Subsequently, the Shenzhou 19 Takionaut crew will enter the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft and carry out related work such as cargo transfer as planned.
天舟八号 [Unpacking the package]
This morning, the Shenzhou 19 Takionaut crew opened the Tianzhou 8 hatch with the cooperation of the ground and began to “unpack the package” in space. At 8:26 Beijing Time, Takionaut Cai Xuzhe opened the Tianzhou 8 hatch and entered the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft. The Shenzhou 19 astronaut crew will continue to carry out related work such as cargo transfer as planned….
CNSA- China National Space Administration- Beijing Aerospace City – CMS China Manned Space – Control Center for the Operations of Tiangong -China Space Station is Something Out of Star Trek…
