On the 3rd September 2024 schedule to launch CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China 0922 Hours Hong Kong –Beijing Time China- People’s Republic of China…. at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province…..The Chang Zheng -Long March 4B carrier rocket ignited and took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, and then sent the Remote Sensing Satellite No. 43 Group 02 into the predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success…. Remote Sensing Satellite No. 43 Group 02 launched this time was developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This launch is the 533rd launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets
Also it was launch as a memorial launch for On the 79th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, China successfully launched the Remote Sensing Satellite No. 43 Group 02 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
At 09:22 Beijing time on September 3, 2024, China successfully launched the Remote Sensing Satellite No. 43 Group 02 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using the Long March 4B carrier rocket. The satellite successfully entered the predetermined orbit and the launch mission was a complete success. The satellite is mainly used to carry out new technology experiments on low-orbit constellation systems.
This mission is the 533rd flight of the Long March series of carrier rockets. This launch rocket uses a 4.2-meter diameter satellite fairing. As a mature product, this configuration fairing has been evaluated for multiple models and multiple flight missions. It has the advantages of larger envelope space and higher space utilization, and also has high maturity and high reliability; this mission innovatively adopts a multi-satellite side-mounted configuration, according to the universalization and modularization of electromechanical interfaces, which can meet the launch plans of different numbers of satellites and further improve the mission adaptability and flexibility. The Long March 4B carrier rocket used in this launch mission was developed by Shanghai Aerospace Corporation. It has the ability to launch satellites of various types and orbits. It can launch one satellite or multiple satellites per rocket. Its carrying capacity in the sun-synchronous orbit can reach 2.5 tons (orbital altitude 700km)
Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.
Static test of composite cabin of “Lijian-2” liquid launch vehicle
Before July 29, 2024, the static test of the composite cabin of the “Lijian-2” liquid launch vehicle was successful. This test mainly verifies whether the structural scheme meets the design requirements under the maximum design load and assesses the feasibility of the composite scheme. Since the beginning of this year, the development of the “Lijian-2” rocket has been rapidly advanced and is steadily moving towards its first flight.
“Lijian-2” is a medium-sized cryogenic liquid carrier rocket developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CAS Space). It adopts a two-and-a-half-stage configuration. The take-off stage adopts a CBC configuration, in which the core first stage and two core first stage module boosters are bundled side by side, and the core second stage is connected in series on the core first stage.
The first stage of the rocket core is equipped with three YF-102 liquid oxygen-kerosene engines, adopting an open gas generator cycle and a pump-front swing design, supporting double swing of ±6°, a single sea level thrust of approximately 85 tons (835 kN), a sea level specific impulse of 275.5 seconds, and a thrust-to-weight ratio of not less than 130; the two boosters are configured basically the same as the first stage of the core; the second stage of the core is equipped with a YF-102V liquid oxygen-kerosene engine with a thrust of approximately 72 tons (710 kN), which can achieve 55%~100% variable thrust, a vacuum specific impulse of 320 seconds (throttling)~330 seconds, and support repeated starts for no less than 2 times.
Schematic diagram of the Force Arrow II
The entire rocket of “Force-2” is 52 meters high. The diameters of the core stage, core stage and booster are all 3.35 meters. It is equipped with a fairing with a diameter of 4.2 meters. The take-off mass is 625 tons and the take-off thrust is 766 tons. Its low-Earth orbit (LEO) carrying capacity is 12 tons and its 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) carrying capacity is 8 tons.
The ultimate goal of “Force Arrow II” is to become a reusable launch vehicle, realize multiple recovery and reuse of the core stage and boosters, and support reuse more than 20 times. The three-core parallel launch stage of the arrow will implement cluster separation and cluster recovery. The convenience lies in that it only needs to be equipped with a flight control system and a recovery and landing system, the latter includes a set of sang rudders and a set of landing legs. Two of the four sang rudders are distributed in the core stage, and the other two are distributed in the boosters. Two of the four landing legs are distributed in the core stage, and the other two are distributed in the boosters. According to the plan, “Force Arrow II” will realize the recovery of the core stage and booster modules in 2028.
The first flight is to launch a cargo spacecraft
Since the proposal, the “Lijian-2” has undergone major changes in the plan. The current design is very different from the previous single-stage plan, and the first flight has been postponed for several years. According to the plan, in August 2025, the “Lijian-2” will make its first flight at the No. 2 station of the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, and the takeoff stage will not be recovered.
The first flight mission of “Lijian-2” carried a heavy-duty cargo spacecraft. The cargo spacecraft was developed by the Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In the bidding for the overall plan of the low-cost cargo transportation system for the Chinese space station released by the China Manned Space Engineering Office in May 2023, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Satellite Innovation Institute jointly carried out ship-rocket joint demonstration and key technology research, and carried out the “ship-rocket-cargo” integrated space-to-earth transportation system plan design. With the ship-rocket collaborative solution of the low-cost cargo spacecraft and the “Lijian-2” rocket, it was successfully shortlisted in the bidding and entered the detailed design stage of the plan.
The launch mission of the low-cost cargo spacecraft to be carried out by the Lijian-2 rocket is the first time that a Chinese commercial aerospace enterprise has participated in the development and launch of a low-cost cargo transportation project for the Chinese space station. If it is finally selected, the Lijian-2 will become China’s first commercial rocket to carry out manned space missions, which will also be a recognition of the reliability of the Lijian-2.
Build your own advantages by networking for the constellation!
As a commercial aerospace enterprise, China Aerospace Science and Technology is targeting the vast commercial space launch market, especially the low-orbit satellite constellation launch service market. my country’s currently planned low-orbit constellation contains tens of thousands of satellites, which require launch vehicles to provide large-capacity, high-frequency, low-cost, and high-reliability launch services. Compared with China’s liquid commercial rockets of the same level, the “Lijian-2” rocket does not have an advantage in capacity, but it can work hard on high frequency, low cost, and high reliability.
Create high-frequency launches. At the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center in China, two launch stations have been built. Both stations have a designed launch capacity of 16 times per year. Station 2 is a general-purpose station that needs to support the launch of more than a dozen types of rockets, which is far from enough for high-frequency launches. In addition to using Hainan Commercial Launch Station 2, China Science and Technology Aerospace is building a dedicated technical preparation plant at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and is about to build a dedicated launch station for the “Lijian-2” rocket. Based on self-built stations, China Science and Technology Aerospace will be able to achieve dozens of launch frequencies per year.
The core secondary box section of “Lijian-2”
Achieve low cost. “Lijian-2” uses a lot of mature technologies. The main power is all YF-102 series engines. All stages use mainstream tank modules with a diameter of 3.35 meters. It uses the same avionics system as “Lijian-1”. The application of mature and common technologies means that costs can be greatly reduced. At the same time, simplifying the design is another important way to control costs. For example, the core second-stage box section takes into account the functions of the traditional liquid rocket instrument cabin and cancels the core second-stage instrument cabin, which simplifies the cabin structure and saves materials.
Achieve high reliability. While applying mature and general technologies, the power system and avionics system adopt redundant design, and the separation scheme is simple, making the rocket highly reliable. For example, the launch stage of the rocket is equipped with 9 YF-102 engines, with a single sea level thrust of about 85 tons, a total rocket takeoff thrust of 766 tons, a takeoff mass of 625 tons, and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.23, achieving a large power redundancy, and can complete the launch mission in the event of one engine failure.
Schematic diagram of the heavy-duty “Force Arrow II”
Building a stronger model
After my country’s low-orbit constellation enters the large-scale networking period, the intensive networking and launch of tens of thousands of satellites requires a large-scale reusable launch vehicle, but the current “Lijian-2” has obviously insufficient capacity.
Based on the Lijian-2, China Aerospace Science and Technology will develop a more powerful “Lijian-2” heavy-lift launch vehicle (called “heavy”, but actually large). The latter is based on the former and adds two core-stage module boosters to achieve five cores in parallel (5CBC). The “Lijian-2” heavy-lift rocket is 56 meters high, with optional fairings of 4.2 meters and 5 meters in diameter, a takeoff mass of 913 tons, a low-Earth orbit (LEO) capacity of 22 tons, and a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) capacity of 15 tons. The core stage and booster can be reused more than 20 times.
In general, the “Force-2” will be a high-quality rocket that can meet market demand to a large extent. Facing the needs of constellation network launches, with its advantages of high frequency, low cost and high reliability, the “Force-2” is bound to become one of the main near-Earth “flights”.
On the week of 23rd July 2024 CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China at a China Academy Of Launch Vehicle Technology Engine Testing complex.. of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Sixth Academy…. China’s new generation of manned carrier rocket three-stage liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engine long-range high-model test was a complete success … for the长征十号 Chang Zheng- Long March
Recently, the new generation of manned carrier rocket three-stage liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engine completed a long-range test in a high-altitude simulated environment on China’s newly built vertical high-altitude simulation test bench, verifying the feasibility of long-range operation of China’s largest nozzle area ratio liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engine. The test was a complete success.
The success of this long-range high-model test indicates that China’s liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engine high-altitude simulation test capability has reached the level of thousands of seconds, which has greatly improved China’s liquid rocket engine high-model test capability and will strongly support the smooth implementation of China’s manned lunar exploration project. (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Sixth Academy…
Long March 10 rocket is a three-and-a-half-stage rocket developed for the manned lunar exploration project. The total length of the rocket is 92.5 meters, the takeoff weight is about 2,189 tons, the takeoff thrust is about 2,678 tons, and the Earth-Moon transfer orbit carrying capacity is not less than 27 tons. In the future, it will be used to launch a new generation of manned spacecraft and lunar landers. In addition, the Long March 10 has also designed another booster-free configuration that can perform space station Takionaut and cargo transportation tasks….
深蓝航天 Deep Blue Limited – Deep Blue AerospaceLandspace One of sixty Chinese private space Carrier Rocket Companies in China-People’s Republic of China… As many of sixty plus Private Rocket Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. was established in 2017. The company is mainly a high-tech aerospace enterprise that focuses on the direction of liquid recovery and reusable launch vehicles and provides users with commercial launch services. Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province. At the same time, the company has rocket general and liquid engine R&D centers in Yizhuang, Beijing and Xi’an, Shaanxi, respectively, and a rocket power system test base in Tongchuan, Shaanxi…..
[The first stage of the Nebula-1 rocket of Deep Blue Aerospace has successfully completed the three-machine parallel full-time sequence power system series test. The first stage of the Nebula-1 rocket is about to undergo a VTVL high-altitude vertical recovery flight test]
On July 21, 2024, the Nebula-1 rocket (referred to as “Nebula-1”) independently developed by Deep Blue Aerospace completed the first stage three-machine parallel full-time sequence power system series test at the Deep Blue Jigang Test Base in Jinan City, and achieved complete success.
This test simulated the full working conditions of high-altitude recovery flight and a large range of engine variable thrust test. During the test, the first stage of the “Nebula-1” rocket also carried out verification of the system performance of locking, unlocking, and semi-deployment of landing legs and grid rudders in real vibration and thermal environments. After the test, the entire system including the engine, landing legs and grid rudders was inspected and confirmed to be in good condition.
After the test, the rocket body will go to the test site to prepare for the upcoming high-altitude vertical recovery flight test of the first stage of the “Nebula-1” rocket.
At 1103 Morning Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 19th July 2024 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration Successfully launched Chang Zheng – Long March 4B Yao 58 Carrier Rocket ignited and took off at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Shanxi Province.. Successfully launch China successfully launched the Gaofen-11 05 satellite Successfully into its pre-determined orbit…
China successfully launched Gaofen-11 05 satellite into space using the Long March 4B carrier rocket at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The satellite entered the planned orbit smoothly and the launch mission was a complete success. The satellite is mainly used in land surveys, urban planning, land rights confirmation, road network design, crop yield estimation and disaster prevention and mitigation, and can provide information support for the implementation of major national strategies such as the “Belt and Road” and the modernization of national defense.
The satellite was developed by the General Department of Remote Sensing Satellites of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology. It is mainly used in land surveys, urban planning, land rights confirmation, road network design, crop yield estimation, and disaster prevention and mitigation. It can provide information support for the implementation of major national strategies such as the “Belt and Road” and the modernization of national defense.
The Long March 4B rocket has a 700kmSSO capacity of 2.5 tons. In order to meet the requirements of the satellite, this rocket uses a Φ4000mm von Karman fairing and a load reduction design to further improve the adaptability of the rocket. This mission is the first time in 15 months that the Long March 4 model has gone to the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center for a launch.
