On the 2025 Hour Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration On 22nd August 2024, the combination of the Chang Zheng- Long March 7A Yao 9 carrier rocket vertically at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, Hainan Province China, Peoples Republic of China China successfully launched the ChinaSat 4A from the Wenchang Space Launch Center using the Long March 7A Yao 9 carrier rocket. This launch is the 154th space launch in the world in 2024, the 37th in China, the 4th this month, and the 2nd by the Long March 7A carrier rocket.
ChinaSat 4AThe satellite can provide users with voice, data, and radio and television transmission services. This mission is the 532nd flight of the Long March series of carrier rockets
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.
On the Morning Hour Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration On 15th January 2024, the combination of the Long March 7 Yao 8 carrier rocket and天舟七号the Advance cargo spacecraft was vertically at the Wenchang Space Launch Site, Hainan Province China, Peoples Republic of China transported to the Wenchang launch complex standing by in readiness to launch towards the Tiangong –China Space Station..
天舟七号 Chang Zheng – Long March 7 Carrier Rocket with the Advance Tianzhou cargo spacecraft launch mission was a complete success…… At 22:27 on January 17, 2024, Hong Kong SAR- Beijing time, the Long March 7 Yao 8 launch vehicle carrying the Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft was ignited at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China. About 10 minutes after the launch, the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. Afterwards, the spacecraft’s solar panels were deployed smoothly, making the launch a complete success. In the future, the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft will rendezvous and dock with the space station assembly in orbit.
The Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft was loaded with consumables, propellants, application experimental equipment and other materials for the astronauts to stay in orbit, and sent “new year goods” for the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon to the Shenzhou-17 astronaut crew.
This mission is the fourth launch mission since my country’s manned space project entered the space station application and development stage. It is the 31st launch mission since the project was established and implemented. It is also the 507th flight of the Long March series of launch vehicles
【Complete combination! The Advance Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft and the China space station assembly completed the rendezvous and docking]
The Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft successfully completed the status setting after entering orbit, and successfully docked with the space station Tianhe at 01:46 on January 18, 2024, Beijing time Core cabin aft port. After the rendezvous and docking is completed, Tianzhou-7 will transfer to the combined flight phase. Subsequently, the Shenzhou 17 astronaut crew will enter the Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft and carry out cargo transfer and other related work as planned……
The Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft carries more than 260 pieces of cargo, and the total weight of the transported materials is about 5.6 tons. Among them, 2.4 tons of daily necessities were delivered to the astronaut crew, including Spring Festival goods for the Year of the Dragon, fresh fruit and vegetable gift packages, etc. Picture: Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology
On the 3rd November 2023 22:54 Hour Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration 文昌航天發射場Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Center, Hainan Province, People’s Republic of China Successfully Launch the Medium Heavy advance Chang Zheng –Long March 7A Yao 6 Carrier Rocket….
This marks the 51st launch this year a complete success At 22:54 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing time on November 3, 2023, my country, China, People’s Republic of China. Used the Chang Zheng – Long March 7A modified Yao-6 launch vehicle at Station 201 of the Wenchang Space Launch Site to successfully transmit the communications
The technology test satellite No. 10 was launched into space. The satellite successfully entered the predetermined orbit and the launch mission was a complete success. This satellite is mainly used to carry out multi-band, high-speed satellite communication technology verification. This mission is the 495th flight of the Long March series of launch vehicles
On the morning of November 1, 2023, the “Long March 7A” Yao-6 carrier rocket has been transferred from the vertical assembly and test plant of the Hainan Wenchang launch site to the 201 launch station, and the launch mission has entered the final stage. It is expected that around 23:00 on November 3, the Chang Zheng- Long March 7A carrier rocket will be launched from station 201 to perform the rocket’s sixth launch mission.
The Chang Zheng- Long March 7A carrier rocket was developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and the communication technology test satellite No. 10 was developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
A Chang Zheng- Long March 7A carrier rocket medium-sized three-stage semi-cryogenic liquid launch vehicle….. It is my country’s China, People’s Republic of China new generation of high-orbit launch vehicle and is mainly used to carry out launch missions from the earth’s medium and high orbits. The maximum length of the rocket is 60.7 meters, the maximum diameter of the core stage is 3.35 meters, the take-off mass is about 573 tons, the take-off thrust is 727 tons, and its 200×5000 kilometers zero-inclination Mid-Earth Transfer Orbit (MTO) capacity is not less than 5.5 tons, and the geosynchronous transfer The rail (GTO) transport capacity is not less than 7 tons. The Chang Zheng- Long March 7A carrier rocket is equipped with a fairing with a diameter of 4.2 meters and is used for single-main-star launches. The height of the rocket in this state is 60.13 meters.
The 495th launch of the Long March rocket, the Chang 7A rocket launched the communication technology test satellite No. 10!
鹊桥号中继卫星 Queqiao 2 Lunar Relay Satellite is expected to be launched in Wenchang in March 2024 from CNSA – China National Space Adminstration- Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Center, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China launched and deployed from the Chang Zheng- Long March 8 modified variant Carrier Rocket.. Designed to assistance communications between the far- Dark side of Earth’s Moon for further lunar
“Chang’e 5”
After completing the three-step tasks of “circling”, “landing” and “returning”, China’s lunar exploration project has entered the fourth phase. This phase has planned “Chang’e 4” (already implemented), “Chang’e 6”, “Chang’e 6” and “Chang’e 6”. “7” and “Chang’e 8” and other four missions will eventually lay the foundation for the construction of an international lunar scientific research station.
It is expected that in the first half of 2024, my country will organize and implement the “Chang’e-6” mission to implement sample return in the south pole-Aitken basin (SPA) on the far side of the moon. This will be a pioneering step for human lunar exploration. Because a human spacecraft has never carried out a sample return on the far side of the moon before. To complete the feat of back-lunar sampling and return, it is necessary to provide support for back-lunar communications. Since the “Queqiao” relay communication satellite has entered the end of its life, it is imperative to launch new relay satellites.
Chang Zheng- Long March 5″ Yao 5 Carrier Rocket.- Wenchang Spacecraft launch center – Hainan Province China, People’s Republic of China
It is expected that in March 2024, the “Queqiao-2” relay communication satellite will be launched from the Wenchang launch site by the “Long March 8” carrier rocket. The satellite will be sent into the Earth-moon transfer orbit and then transferred to the orbit on its own. The “Queqiao-2” relay satellite has been upgraded on the basis of “Queqiao”. Its overall capabilities and level have been greatly improved, and its launch quality has nearly doubled. The “Queqiao-2” relay satellite weighs 1.2 tons, has an antenna diameter of 4.2 meters, and a design life of 8 years. The communication payload carried by the satellite includes a 4.2-meter-diameter X-band parabolic antenna inherited from “Queqiao” for communicating with the detector. It has no tracking device and points to the detector through the guidance navigation control system (GNC); a 0.6-meter-diameter S/Ka dual Frequency parabolic antenna used to transmit data to ground stations. Dual-axis tracking and pointing ground station; S-band antenna for measurement and control (TT&C); ultra-high frequency (UHF) relay antenna. As a relay communication satellite, “Queqiao 2” not only provides data and signal forwarding, but also forwards various instructions issued by the ground to the detector.
[Queqiao-2 Relay Star] The Queqiao-2 relay star weighs 1.2 tons, has an antenna of 4.2 meters, and a design life of 8 years. It is planned to be launched into the Earth-moon transfer orbit using the Long March 8 carrier rocket at the Wenchang launch site in March 2024. Queqiao Chang’e-2 will provide relay communication services for the Chang’e-6, 7, and 8 missions. Queqiao-2 also carries three scientific payloads: the extreme ultraviolet camera, the array neutral atom imager, and the Earth-Moon VLBI test system
In addition to its main mission of relay communications, “Queqiao 2” also undertakes additional detection missions and carries three scientific payloads: extreme ultraviolet camera, array neutral atom imager, and Very-long-baseline interferometry of the Earth and Moon. Interferometry, VLBI) test system.
After being put into operation, “Queqiao 2” will first serve the “Chang’e 6” mission, and then adjust its orbit at an appropriate time to provide services for “Chang’e 7”, “Chang’e 8” and subsequent lunar exploration missions. In addition, “Queqiao 2” will provide relay communication services for the “Chang’e 4” lander and the “Yutu 2” rover.
Via CNSA China Space Administration –CLEP China Lunar Exploration project management office
