Category: space telescopes

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 |#BRI #May2024 | the newest detach- attachable #CSST  #ChinaSurveySpaceTelescope #SpaceTelescope of the #ChinaSpaceStation #Tiangong #SpaceStation Featuring the #SkySurveyOpticalModule Ready for #Year2026

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Currently中国空间站 Previously on 14 May 2024 CNSA –China National Space Administration   on a working meeting conference in Hangzhou, Ultra Mega City, China, People’s Republic of China , Revealed the latest development progress of the survey space telescope and the timing of subsequent major plans, showing that the survey space telescope will be ready for launch on December 21, 2026.​​​ In which is called the Xuntian巡天Chinese Space Station telescope CSST  巡天空间望远镜 with a mission duration of ten years plus on will be launched on the Chang Zheng –Long March 5B Carrier Rocket ….

Currently one of the latest installations towards the Tiangong China Space Station –   the latest is the Sky Survey Space Telescope stands up to 3 stories high……. China’s Sky Survey Space Telescope is in the initial stage of development. The telescope will be launched after the completion of the China Space Station. It is expected to be put into scientific operation around 2024 and will become a flagship space astronomy facility for exploring the sea of ​​stars. It is about the size of a bus and stands 3 stories high, just like a mobile space observatory, which will fly independently with the space station in co-orbit….

The latest news of the Sky Survey Space Telescope, which is in the preliminary development stage……With the construction of the Chinese space station, the development of the Sky Survey Space Telescope for co-orbit flight with it is also progressing in an orderly manner. The reporter learned from the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that at present, new progress has been made in the development of the first prototype of the sky survey optical facility. The telescope is expected to be launched after the completion of the Chinese space station, and will become a flagship space astronomy facility for exploring the sea of ​​stars.


As the optical module of the Chinese space station, the Sky Survey Space Telescope will be equipped with an optical system with a diameter of 2 meters and a series of state-of-the-art detectors. The size of the telescope is equivalent to a bus, standing three stories high and weighing more than ten tons.


On the Sky Survey Space Telescope, the first-generation instrument contains a total of 5 observation equipment, including a sky survey module, a terahertz module, a multi-channel imager, an integral field of view spectrometer, and an exoplanet imaging coronagraph. Among them, the most important observation time is the sky survey module, which is a camera with an extremely wide field of view.


Xu Shuyan, researcher at the Changchun Institute of Optics and Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, chief designer of the sky survey optical facility: We are currently in the initial prototype development stage. At present, all subsystems, components and units of the identified product have been basically developed and are ready for integration testing and testing. After the completion of these tasks , we will move to the prototype development stage, carry out the development of flying parts, carry out joint tests with the integration of the sky survey platform, carry out the launch site test, and then launch at the right time.
Zhan Hu, researcher of the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, responsible scientist of the Sky Survey Optical Facility: It co-orbits away from the space station during normal observation. They are in the same orbital plane. When it needs to be replenished or repaired and upgraded, the Sky Survey Space Telescope will actively dock with the space station , and then resupply, or through the operation of the astronauts, the rear-end instruments and some components of the front main optical system can be replaced and upgraded, or some of them can be transported to the experimental cabin for maintenance.
According to China’s manned spaceflight project plan, the Sky Survey Space Telescope is expected to be put into scientific operation around 2024. The planned mission life is 10 years, and the life can be continuously extended through maintenance.

China’s Sky Survey Space Telescope  The Sky Survey Space Telescope will operate in a low-Earth orbit at a height of about 400 kilometers, with a primary mirror diameter of 2 meters. Xu Shuyan, a researcher at the Changchun Institute of Optics and Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the chief designer of the survey optics facility: The characteristics of this space survey telescope are that it can see deeply, see widely, and see finely. On the basis of the same depth and precision, it is more than 300 times wider than the Hubble telescope. Under the same conditions, Hubble can see 1 star, and our space survey telescope can see 300 stars.
According to reports, the detectors of the Hubble Telescope Camera are the size of a palm, while the main focal plane of the China Space Station Telescope Sky Survey Module is made up of 30 detectors, each of which is larger than the Hubble detector. Among them, 18 detectors are equipped with different filters, which can obtain color images of cosmic objects in different wavelength bands; the other 12 detectors are used for seamless spectral observation, and on average, at least thousands of celestial objects can be obtained per exposure. Spectral…

The Sky Survey Space Telescope (CSST) is expected to launch no earlier now for 21st December 2026..  as drawn out on the work meeting in Hangzhou..

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#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 |#BRI #May2024 |#西昌衛星發射中心 #XichangSatelliteLaunchCenter the advance iconic #ChangZheng3b #LongMarch3B launches  Advance#清华大学#TsinghuaUniversity #Smart Skynet 1 01 #6G #CommunicationSatellite #Satellites…..  #ASummary  

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On the 9th May 2024 in  CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China 0943 hours Hong Kong –Beijing Time China- People’s Republic of China launch the Chang Zheng Long March 3B carrier rocket successfully launched the “Smart Skynet-1” 01A and 01B double stars ignited and took off at the No. 2 station of the Xichang Launch Site, sending the double star combination to the medium-Earth transfer Orbital (MTO).  Satellite at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center

Smart Skynet 1″ 01A and 01B satellites were developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (Shanghai Aerospace Technology Research Institute). They are my country’s first medium-orbit broadband communication satellite group, including the technology verification satellite A and the test satellite B. Star A is equipped with a multi-beam high-speed microwave link, an inter-satellite two-way laser link and an onboard digital processing and forwarding platform; Satellite B is equipped with an inter-satellite laser link trial load, and the dual satellites in orbit mainly carry out flexible exchange of satellite-ground and inter-satellite information. Core technology verification; carry out verification of key satellite platform technologies such as normal large heat flux density heat dissipation, high-stable continuous yaw manoeuvre attitude control, and low fuel consumption orbit position maintenance correction.

The “Smart Skynet” communication satellite constellation is a medium-orbit pan-synchronous orbit space-based network solution originally proposed by Tsinghua University. It is composed of 8 medium-orbit broadband communication network satellites and is deployed in a medium-earth orbit (MEO) with an altitude of 20,000 kilometers. ), forming a communication constellation covering the world, and can be expanded to 16 satellites (two groups), 32 satellites (four groups) and other coverage networks as needed. After the constellation is completed, it can jointly build a unified space-based 6G network with low-orbit satellite Internet and high-orbit satellite Internet.

“Smart Skynet” is a medium-orbit pan-synchronous orbit space-based network solution originally proposed by Tsinghua University. It takes 8 medium-orbit broadband communication network satellites as a group, deployed at 20,000 km altitude, forming a global communications constellation, and can be expanded to 16 satellite (two sets) and 32 satellite (four sets) as needed.

After the completion of the constellation, it will realize a personalized broadband network service without blind spot coverage worldwide, and can jointly build a unified space 6G network with low-orbit satellite Internet and high-orbit satellite Internet, realizing the access of all kinds of users in the whole scene and the whole area.

Smart Skynet No.1 01 satellite as China’s first medium-orbit broadband communication satellite, including A-star for technical verification and test B-satellite, was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd. Shanghai Institute of Space Technology. A-satellite is equipped with multi-beam high-speed microwave link, inter-star bi-directional laser link and on-board digital processing forwarding platform. B-satellite is equipped with inter-star laser link test load. In orbit, it mainly carries out the core technology verification of star-ground and inter-stellar information flexible interaction. It carries out key technology verification of satellite platforms such as normal large heat flow density heat dissipation, high stable continuous yaw motor posture control, and low fuel consumption track position maintenance correction.

After the launch of Smart Skynet 1 01 satellite, it will carry out dynamic beam hopping on-demand service, high-speed laser link, and secure network protocol through technological innovations such as dynamic beam hopping, high-speed laser link, and secure network protocol. It will meet users’ casual access, Internet business, ground cell business, etc.

After operating in orbit, the satellite will also carry out typical scene application demonstrations such as direct connection of national and Antarctic scientific research stations and real-time return of low-orbit satellite data, laying a solid foundation for building an innovative experimental platform for space network and exploring the application model of smart skynet industry.

Chang Zheng – Long March 3B Carrier Rocket  is a medium-sized liquid launch vehicle developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology). It adopts a three-stage and semi-configuration, consisting of a booster, a core first stage, a core second stage, and a core third stage. In addition to the core three-stage main power which uses hydrogen-oxygen propellant, the other stages’ main power uses dinitrogen tetroxide/uniform dimethylhydrazine propellant. The arrows currently in use are enhanced types, including Type 2 (G2), Type 3 (G3), Type 3Z and Type 5 (G5). The rocket is mainly used for medium- This “Chang Zheng – Long March 3B” Carrier rocket adopts the Ka-band space-based measurement subsystem for the first time. Compared with the previous S-band system, the transmission rate is significantly improved. Starting from this launch, the “Chang Sanjia” series of rockets entered a new round of high-density launches. to-high Earth orbit and deep space launch missions, with a medium-Earth transfer orbit capacity of more than 4.3 tons.

This launch is the second launch of the “Chang 3B” rocket in 2024, the seventh launch from the Xichang Launch Site, the 21st launch in China, and the 88th launch in the world. So far, China Aerospace has carried out 3 space launches into orbit in the first 9 days of May, with an average density higher than 1 launch/3 days.

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At 17:27 on May 3rd Friday 2024  Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration, the Chang’e-6 probe was successfully launched by the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province,  China, People’s Republic of China., and accurately entered the Earth-moon transfer orbit. The launch mission was a complete success. The Chang’e-6 probe has embarked on the world’s first return journey for sampling from the far side of the moon. The pre-selected landing and sampling area is the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon.

About 37 minutes after the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket flew, the rocket separated, sending the Chang’e-6 probe directly into the predetermined Earth-moon transfer orbit with a perigee altitude of 200 kilometers and an apogee altitude of about 380,000 kilometers. The Chang’e-6 probe consists of an orbiter, returner, lander, and ascender. Subsequently, with the support of ground measurement and control and the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, the Chang’e-6 probe will undergo processes such as earth-moon transfer, near-moon braking, orbiting the moon, landing and descent, and soft landing on the lunar surface, and finally reach a pre-selected area on the far side of the moon. Collect lunar surface rock and soil samples, and conduct scientific exploration at the same time. After completing the sampling and packaging, the ascender will take off from the lunar surface, then carry out lunar orbit rendezvous and docking and transfer the samples to the returner; the returner will undergo processes such as moon-to-earth transfer, approaching the second cosmic speed and re-entering the earth, and finally carry precious Lunar samples returned to Earth.

According to reports, the entire process from launch to sample return of the Chang’e-6 mission takes about 53 days. The mission cycle is long, there are many engineering innovations, high risks and difficulties, and each stage is interlocked. Compared with the Chang’e-5 mission that achieved sample return from the front side of the moon in 2020, the Chang’e-6 mission needs to implement the first sample return from the far side of the moon with the support of the Queqiao-2 relay star, breaking through the lunar retrograde orbit design and control, and intelligent and rapid lunar backside Key technologies such as sampling and lunar take-off and ascent. At the same time, the Chang’e-6 mission will carry out scientific explorations such as on-site investigation and analysis of the landing area on the back of the moon, laboratory analysis and research of lunar samples, and deepen the study of the formation and evolution history of the moon.

In addition, the Chang’e-6 mission has carried out pragmatic international cooperation. In April 2019, the National Space Administration released the “Announcement on International Payload Cooperation Opportunities for the Chang’e-6 Mission”. Through the collection and selection of proposals for two batches of international payload carrying projects, the ESA lunar surface negative ion analyzer, There are four international carrying projects including the French Lunar Radon Detector, the Italian Laser Corner Reflector, and the Pakistani CubeSat. Among them, the ESA Lunar Surface Negative Ion Analyzer will detect negative ions on the lunar surface and study the interaction mechanism between plasma and the lunar surface; the French Lunar Radon Detector aims to conduct in-situ detection of radon isotopes on the lunar surface and study volatilization The transmission and diffusion mechanism of objects in the lunar environment; the Italian laser corner reflector plans to use the positioning on the back of the moon to carry out joint ranging and positioning research with other lunar exploration missions; the Pakistani CubeSat will carry out an on-orbit imaging mission to verify the NanoSatelllites moon Orbit detection technology.

On May 3, the CNSA- China National Space Administration held a Chang’e-6 international payload seminar in Haikou. About 50 international friends from 12 national space agencies, embassies in China, including Pakistan, France, and Italy, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations and ESA, gathered in Hainan to discuss cooperation and witness the launch of the Chang’e-6 mission.

The Long March 5 launch vehicle is my country’s first new-generation high-thrust launch vehicle with a core diameter of 5 meters. It has a total length of about 57 meters, a take-off weight of about 870 tons, a take-off thrust of more than 1,000 tons, and a low-Earth orbit carrying capacity of up to 25 tons. The geosynchronous orbit has a carrying capacity of up to 14 tons and completed its first flight in 2016. Due to the constant changes in the relative position of the Earth and the Moon, in order to ensure that the rocket is launched on time, the model team applied the “narrow window multi-orbit” launch technology and designed a total of 10 lunar orbits for the rocket within a 50-minute window for two consecutive days. Improve implementation launch probability and reliability. At the same time, the development team continued to optimize the launch site process, reducing the time it took to launch Chang’e-5 from nearly 60 days to 43 days. This is the 519th launch of the Long March series of launch vehicles.

The lunar exploration project is organized and implemented under the leadership of the National Space Administration. For this Chang’e-6 mission, the overall project was undertaken by the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the National Space Administration; the detector and launch vehicle were developed by the Space Technology Research Institute and Launch Vehicle Technology Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation respectively; the launch The measurement, control and recovery work is jointly completed by China Wenchang Space Launch Site, Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, Xi’an Satellite Measurement and Control Center, Yuanwang Survey Ship, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and other units; the ground application system is mainly undertaken by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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On the 15 March 2024 Hour Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration   ….. the “Chang Zheng -Long March 5” Yao-8 carrier rocket which will carry out the Chang’e-6 mission of the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project, safely arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China. Subsequently, the rocket will be assembled and tested at the launch site together with the Chang’e-6 probe that arrived in advance. Currently, all participating systems in the launch site area are preparing for the Chang’e-6 mission as planned…..

“Chang Zheng -Long March 5” Yao-8 carrier rocket which will carry out the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project嫦娥六号was safely transported to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China. Subsequently, the rocket will be assembled and tested at the launch site together with the Chang’e-6 probe that arrived in advance. Currently, all participating systems in the launch site area….

【Complete vertical transfer! Choose the right moment to launch! 】

On April 27th 2024, after the Chang’e-6 probe and the Long March-5 Yao-8 carrier rocket completed relevant work in the technical area at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China, the vehicle-rocket assembly was transported vertically to the launch area. It is planned to select an opportunity for launch in early May.


After the Chang’e-6 probe and the Long March-5 Yao-8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March respectively, they successively completed various preparations such as final assembly and testing. On April 27, the movable launch platform carrying the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket slowly and safely transferred the rocket assembly from the vertical test factory to the launch area. Subsequent functional inspections, joint tests, propellant filling and other work will be carried out as planned

Mission planning

嫦娥六号 Chang’e-6 plans to conduct systematic and long-term research on samples from the far side of the moon, analyze the structure, physical properties, and material composition of the lunar soil, and strive to obtain updated lunar scientific data [42].

The first scientific goal of Chang’e-6 is to carry out mapping detection and geological background survey of the landing site area, obtain on-site analysis data related to lunar samples , and establish a relationship between on-site detection data and laboratory analysis data. Mainly includes: topography detection of the landing area : description and structural characteristics around the sampling point ; description, size and distribution of impact craters , etc. Material composition detection: material composition characteristics at sampling points; physical characteristics and structure of lunar soil ; temperature gradient detection in the shallow layers of the lunar crust , etc. The second scientific goal is to conduct systematic and long-term laboratory research on the lunar samples returned to high altitudes, to analyze the physical characteristics and structural structure of lunar soil and lunar rocks , mineral and chemical composition, trace elements and isotope composition, and lunar rock formation and evolution. Through the isotope age determination of the process, the interaction between cosmic radiation and solar wind ions and the moon, the space weathering process and environmental evolution process, etc., we will conduct in-depth research on the formation and evolution history of the moon.

The second scientific goal is to conduct systematic and long-term laboratory research on the lunar samples returned to the ground , and analyze the physical properties and structural structure of the lunar soil and lunar rocks, mineral and chemical composition, trace elements and isotope composition , and the formation and evolution of lunar rocks. Isotopes of the process, the interaction between cosmic radiation and solar wind ions and the moon, space weathering processes and environmental evolution processes, etc., to deepen the study of the formation and evolution history of the moon.

To achieve lunar sample return, many technological breakthroughs are needed, such as sample collection technology, lunar surface ascent and takeoff technology, lunar orbit rendezvous and docking technology, etc. Because it is a high-speed return, breakthroughs in re-entry technology are also needed. In terms of sampling, it is not only necessary to collect lunar soil from the lunar surface , but also to drill holes to remove materials of different depths from the lunar soil layer 2 meters below and bring them back to the earth. Therefore, Chang’e 6 will also carry a drilling rig …


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

#CNSA #ChinaNationalSpaceAdministration #国家航天局 | #BRI #Apirl2024|#中国天文日 #ChinaSpaceDay | #ASummary 2024 “China Space Day” themed promotional video with very innovative artwork posters celebrating China Space Day in #武漢 #Wuhan ….  

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On April 17TH 2024, the China National Space Administration held a press conference to officially release the trailer for the 2024 “China Space Day” themed promotional video.. In which China Space Day is on the 24th April 2024..

China National Space Administration held a press conference for China Space Day 2024 in Beijing, announcing the theme, promotional posters and related activities of this year’s Space Day activities.


April 24, 2024 is the ninth China Aerospace Day. With the theme of “Looking at the sky and supporting the stars together”, the day will host home activities in Wuhan, Hubei. The activities include the China Aerospace Conference, the Aerospace Culture and Art Forum, and aerospace science popularization. A series of exhibitions and other contents were held, and the first China-Latin America and Caribbean Countries Space Cooperation Forum was held. Foreign guests from more than 50 countries, regions and international organizations will participate in the Space Day home activities.

At the press conference, the relevant person in charge of the National Space Administration also introduced the relevant arrangements for China’s space missions this year:

 In 2024, China’s aerospace engineering missions will be intensively implemented. The Chang’e-6 mission of the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project will land on the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the back of the moon and Samples are returned; the manned space project will implement the Shenzhou 18 and 19 manned missions; commercial space is included in the government work report for the first time, and efforts will be made to create a new growth engine.


We will continue to work with other countries to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, jointly explore the mysteries of the universe, use outer space for peaceful purposes, and promote aerospace technology to better benefit people around the world.

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