China Outer Space Science, Technology and Explorations: News & Updates

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Harbin Institute of Technology
Two Micro-satellites "Longjiang 1" and "Longjiang 2," Developed by HIT, Launched Successfully
Updated: 2018/06/04
Written by: Ji Xing and Deng Dekuan
Translated by: Fu Ruiyao
Edited by: D. Parker
Pictures by: Ji Xing
Date: 2018-05-22

Two micro-satellites developed by Harbin Institute of Technology, together with the relay satellite named “Queqiao”, a legendary bridge in the Milky Way, lifted into space atop a Long March 4C carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province at 5:28 pm May 21st, 2018. The two micro-satellite are named "Longjiang 1" and "Longjiang 2". They were designed to fly in formation in lunar orbit for future ultra-long wave radio interferometer mission.

Twenty-five minutes after their launch, the “Queqiao” and “Longjiang 1” and “Longjiang 2” entered into the earth-moon transit orbit. The perigee altitude was 200 km and the apogee altitude was 400,000 km. At this point the relay satellites and two micro-satellites separated from the Long March 4C carrier rocket. The satellites are now in orbit and operating as designed. After "Longjiang 1" and "Longjiang 2" each independently complete the earth-moon transfer flight they will enter the phase where the micro-satellites will orbit close to the lunar surface. HIT will be the first university in the world to send a micro-mini interferometer into lunar orbit.

It is worth mentioning that "Longjiang 2" is equipped with a miniature optical camera developed by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. HIT contributed to the implementation of this "The Belt and Road" initiative.

When entering the moon’s elliptical orbit, the two micro-satellites “Longjiang 1” and “Longjiang 2” will complete the initial phase of their work, after a long-distance and near-distance approach with the support of ground monitoring and control. After this the two micro-satellites will fly in formation around the moon in orbit within variably relative distances within 1~10km, which will be the world's first lunar orbit formation flying.

Both "Longjiang 1" and "Longjiang No.2" are all equipped with low-frequency radio spectrometers developed by the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The detection band covers the electromagnetic spectrum which ranges from 1 MHz to 30 MHz. The back of the moon serves as a natural shield against electromagnetic interference from the earth. When they fly to the back of the moon, they will conduct experiments such as ultra-long-wave radio astronomy observations, which will greatly enrich human understanding of the universe.



Two Micro-satellites "Longjiang 1" and "Longjiang 2," Developed by HIT, Launched Successfully | Harbin Institute of Technology



Also, news below from 54th Research Institute of CETC (China Electronics Technology Group Corporation). (My translation with help from machine translation)


零的突破｜54所首个月球轨道有效载荷分系统在轨测试成功
54th Institute first Lunar orbit payload subsystem in-orbit test successful

中国电科五十四所
CETC 54th Institute

5月21日5点28分，在西昌卫星发射中心，由54所为哈尔滨工业大学月球轨道微卫星“龙江一号”和“龙江二号”研制的测控、数传分系统，随微卫星搭乘长征四号丙运载火箭升空，成功送入近地点约200公里，远地点约40万公里的地月转移轨道。
At 5:28 on May 21st, at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Harbin Institute of Technology Lunar orbit microsatellite "Longjiang No. 1" and "Longjiang No. 2" with measurement and control, data transmission subsystems developed by 54th Institute was launched by the Long March 4C rocket, and succeeded in entering trans-lunar orbit of about 200 kilometers perigee, 400,000 kilometers in apogee.

星箭分离后，两颗卫星的与测控系统开机工作正常，上午6：20微卫星A遥测正常，6：33微卫星B遥测正常，经过数天飞行后，于5月27日进入月球轨道开展天文观测任务，27日下午18：10数传设备开机进行数传，下午19：00经分析数传数据正常，通过数传通道传回了天文观测数据和月球背面的图片，该图片也是人类目前首次获得的月球背面照片，证明54所研制深空载荷测控和数传产品满足任务需求，实现了深空载荷零的突破。
After the separation of satellites, the two satellites telemetry tracking and control (TT&C) subsystems system are working properly. 6:20 AM Microsatellite A telemetry is normal, 6:33 Microsatellite B telemetry is normal, after a few days of flight, they enter lunar orbit on May 27 to carry out astronomical observation missions. At 18:10 pm on the 27th, the data transmission equipment is turned on for data transmission. At 19:00 in the afternoon, after analysis of the data transmission was deem to be normal, the astronomical observation data and the picture on the back of the moon were transmitted through the digital transmission channel. This picture is also the first time have obtained the photograph of farside of the moon, prove that the deep-space payload of TT&C and digital transmission products developed by 54th Institute meet the mission requirements and achieved first breakthrough in deep-space payload.

龙江微卫星上醒目的数传、测控天线


“龙江一、二号”卫星的数传测控子系统包括数传端机、测控应答机、数传天线及测控天线。与地球卫星相比，月球卫星有更多的设计约束。

经过项目组多次研讨和分析，最大程度地精减了重量及功耗，最终两个系统重量总共小于3公斤，不到同类型测控载荷重量的1/3。

项目于2016年5月启动，在较为紧张的研制周期内，项目团队紧密配合、高效沟通、真抓实干，实现了两套载荷系统的零故障交付。

产品先后经历了设计、评审、生产、试验、联试、验收等多个环节，项目组辗转哈尔滨、北京、喀什等地，完成了各阶段联试、深空对接、试验测试、发射保障等任务。3个专业部紧密配合，在质量管理部、调度与经济运行部等职能部门的支持和帮助下，出色的完成了研制任务。

孔繁青（左二）、庞宗强（左一）、张广宇（右一）、张世层（右二）在整星试验现场

目前，数传系统正在遥远的月球轨道上，不断向地球传回数据和图像，它的使命才刚刚开始。(At present, the data transmission system is on the far-off moon orbit, constantly transmitting data and images to the earth. Its mission has only just begun.) 项目组却没有时间欢庆这奋战两年方得来的胜利，新的征程已在等候——由54所自主研制的两颗试验卫星项目正紧锣密鼓地开展，来自54所的技术人员正在加班加点为了这一目标不懈奋斗。

“宜将剩勇追穷寇，不可沽名学霸王，天若有情天亦老，人间正道是沧桑”，在54所航天产品集成中心的北侧外墙面上，这首毛泽东的《七律：人民解放军占领南京》已刻在那里数十年，54所航天人正如诗中所云，一路披荆斩棘，在航天产业蓬勃发展的今天，不骄不躁、脚踏实地，为54所打赢每一场航天攻坚战！


零的突破｜54所首个月球轨道有效载荷分系统在轨测试成功 - 中国电科五十四所

 

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According to Chinese media report, because of high precision of orbital injection, TCM 2 and 3 were unnecessary and cancelled. The following maneuver, the lunar swing by was successfully performed as reported below.

Chinese relay satellite brakes near moon for entry into desired orbit
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-26 01:28:23|Editor: yan


BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese relay satellite Friday braked near the Moon, completing a vital step before entering a desired orbit, according to the China National Space Administration.

The satellite, Queqiao, braked 100 km above the surface of the Moon in line with instructions from a ground control center in Beijing, and then entered a transfer orbit from the moon to the second Lagrangian (L2) point of the Earth-Moon system.

"There was only a short window for the braking," said Zhang Lihua, project manager of the mission. "And Queqiao had only one chance due to limited fuel."

The relay satellite was launched Monday to set up a communication link between Earth and the planned Chang'e-4 lunar probe that will explore the Moon's mysterious far side.

The satellite is expected to adjust orbit several times before it reaches a halo orbit around the L2 point, about 455,000 km from the Earth.

It will be the world's first communication satellite operating in that orbit.

Relay satellite for Chang'e-4 lunar probe enters desired orbit
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-14 11:55:14|Editor: Yurou


BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The relay satellite for the planned Chang'e-4 lunar probe, which is expected to land softly on the far side of the Moon at the end of this year, has entered its mission orbit, the China National Space Administration announced Thursday.

The satellite, named Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, launched on May 21, entered the Halo orbit around the second Lagrangian (L2) point of the Earth-Moon system about 65,000 km from the Moon at 11:06 a.m. Beijing Time Thursday after a journey of more than 20 days.

"The satellite is the world's first communication satellite operating in that orbit, and will lay the foundation for the Chang'e-4, which is expected to become world's first probe soft-landing and roving on the far side of the Moon," said Zhang Hongtai, president of the China Academy of Space Technology.

 

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Assimilation of FY-3 data at the Met Office
June 14, 2018, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The assessment and assimilation of FY-3 humidity sounders and imagers in the UK Met Office global model. Credit: Fabien CARMINATI​

Chinese meteorological satellite data provide an increasingly important contribution to the global observing system, supporting weather and climate applications. In that context and as part of the Climate Science for Service Partnership China (CSSP China) the UK Met Office has been working in collaboration with the China Meteorological Administration-National Satellite Meteorological Center (CMA-NSMC) to realize maximum benefits from the FY-3 satellite program.

A new study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences presents the strategy for the assimilation of the FY-3 microwave humidity sounders (MWHS) and the microwave radiation imager (MWRI) in the Met Office global numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. The assessment and monitoring of satellite radiances are the first steps towards their assimilation in NWP models and reanalyses, the development of climate data records, and the improvements of future instruments.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2018-06-assimilation-fy-met-office.html#jCp

 

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Micro satellite developed by Chinese university starts to work around Moon
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-14 19:26:43|Editor: ZX


BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- A micro satellite, developed by the Harbin Institute of Technology in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and sent into an orbit around the Moon, has started to transmit data back to Earth.

Two micro satellites, Longjiang-1 and Longjiang-2, were sent into space on May 21 together with the Chang'e-4 lunar probe's relay satellite from southwest China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Longjiang-2 successfully reached its destination near the Moon on May 25, and entered a lunar orbit with the perilune at 350 km and the apolune at 13,700 km. However, Longjiang-1 suffered an anomaly and failed to enter lunar orbit, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Longjiang-2, weighing 47 kg, has become the world's first lunar orbiter developed by a university.

It carries an optical camera developed by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology of Saudi Arabia, as well as a low-frequency radio detector developed by the National Space Science Center of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The scientific instruments on the satellite have all started to work, CNSA said.

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China, Saudi Arabia unveil lunar images gained from space cooperation
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-14 19:16:40|Editor: Yurou

A released photo shows part of the moon with the earth as background. China and Saudi Arabia on June 14, 2018 jointly unveiled three lunar images acquired through cooperation on the relay satellite mission for Chang'e-4 lunar probe. An optical camera, developed by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology of Saudi Arabia, was installed on a micro satellite, named Longjiang-2. The micro satellite is orbiting around the Moon. The camera, which began to work on May 28, has conducted observations of the Moon and acquired a series of clear lunar images and data. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- China and Saudi Arabia on Thursday jointly unveiled three lunar images acquired through cooperation on the relay satellite mission for Chang'e-4 lunar probe.

This is an important cooperation achievement between China and Saudi Arabia in the relay satellite mission, the China National Space Administration said in a statement.

The relay satellite for the Chang'e-4 lunar probe, named Queqiao or Magpie Bridge, was launched on May 21 and entered the Halo orbit around the second Lagrangian (L2) point of the Earth-Moon system, about 65,000 km from the Moon, at 11:06 a.m. Thursday after a journey of more than 20 days.

An optical camera, developed by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology of Saudi Arabia, was installed on a micro satellite, named Longjiang-2, which was launched together with Queqiao.

The micro satellite is orbiting around the Moon. The camera, which began to work on May 28, has conducted observations of the Moon and acquired a series of clear lunar images and data.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed between China and Saudi Arabia on March 16, 2017, the two countries will share the scientific data in this cooperation.

China is pushing forward space cooperation with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

A released photo shows part of the Mare Imbrium on the moon.

A released photo shows part of the moon with the earth as background.
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Space tourism not far off, rocket maker say
2018-06-19 08:05:33, China Daily

An image of an astronaut in the space capsule in the display hall at China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing, Nov. 21, 2017. (Photo by Tan Xinyu/chinadaily.com.cn)

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology is known as a prestigious developer of carrier rockets, but in the near future, it may acquire a new tag: China's first space tourism provider.

Engineers at the academy in Beijing's southern outskirts are designing a new spacecraft to send anyone willing to pay $200,000 to $250,000 on a suborbital journey to get a magnificent view of the stars and experience weightlessness, according to the academy, part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp and the country's largest rocket maker.

According to the plans, the reusable spacecraft, expected to enter service around 2028, will look like a fixed-wing aircraft without a vertical stabilizer－the upright fin at the tail－and be propelled by a rocket engine. It will blast off vertically like a typical carrier rocket but make a horizontal landing on a runway like an ordinary plane, according to the academy.

It will operate in accordance with preset programs, with no pilot or controllers inside the spacecraft.

With an inside area of more than 10 square meters, the spacecraft will be able to carry at most 20 travelers to an altitude of more than 100 kilometers, about 10 times the cruising altitude of a commercial jetliner.

Passengers would stay there for over 10 minutes of sightseeing during the half-hour flight, according to the academy. They could see distant stars and Earth's contours through the windows, experience moments of weightlessness like astronauts, and perhaps even carry out scientific experiments.

Zhao Jianbo, an engineer in charge of the program, said participants would need to undergo training sessions for several weeks at Chinese space establishments to get ready for the effects of gravitational acceleration and weightlessness.

"They will not need to wear spacesuits during the journey because there will be oxygen and life-support instruments inside the spacecraft," he said.

Project manager Han Pengxin said the spacecraft will be safe and reliable since it will employ the academy's cutting-edge technologies.

Passengers would have to be between ages 18 and 65 and have neither heart disease nor hypertension, he said.

Cai Qiaoyan, a senior researcher of reusable spacecraft at the academy, said maintaining the space tourism spacecraft would be easy, so it could be used for frequent flights.

"After one flight, our engineers will only need to make some simple examinations of the spacecraft and refuel it, which could be done in as little as two days, and then the spacecraft could be used for a new flight," he said, adding that such a spacecraft could make some 50 flights before being retired.

Globally, seven people have rocketed into space at their own expense. The trips were arranged by Space Adventures, a space tourism company in the US state of Virginia, and the tourists were passengers aboard Russian carrier rockets and spacecraft.

Dennis Tito, an engineer and multimillionaire from the United States, was the world's first space tourist.

Together with two Russian cosmonauts, Tito joined the Russian Soyuz TM-32 mission on April 28, 2001, and spent nearly eight days in space, orbiting Earth 128 times after receiving extensive training in Russia and reportedly paying $20 million for his journey. He also was the first self-financed visitor to the International Space Station.

In addition to the Chinese academy, several foreign space firms like the US' Blue Origin as well as Virgin Galactic of the United Kingdom have been developing reusable spacecraft for suborbital tourism, which has yet to become a reality.

 

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China Focus: China pioneers ceramic 3D printing in microgravity
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-19 21:08:37|Editor: ZX


BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- One of the first civilizations to make ceramics about 10,000 years ago, China is now developing technology to manufacture ceramics in space.

The most exciting potential use of the technology is to build bases on the Moon, Mars or other planets. Or maybe just to drink tea from a cup made of lunar dust or Martian soil.

Scientists at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have completed the world's first ceramic manufacturing experiment under microgravity, using digital light processing technology aboard a European parabolic flight aircraft in Switzerland.

"This is a widely used 3D printing technology, but it's previously been regarded as inapplicable in a microgravity environment," said Wang Gong, director of the CAS Key Laboratory of Space Manufacturing Technology.

During the flight experiments, the scientists also tested a metal casting technique using 3D printed ceramic molds.

Both experiments are aimed at developing technologies for producing instrument components on China's future space station, or building large telescopes in space, or exploring the Moon and Mars, said Wang.

Lunar dust is mainly comprised of silicate particles at nanometer or sub-micrometer scale, which have a form similar to the raw materials of ceramics. The lunar soil also contains metals such as titanium, aluminum and iron, said Wang.

"We can develop the technology to manufacture ceramic molds with the lunar dust, and then cast components by using metals in the lunar soil with the ceramic molds," Wang said.

However, fine particles are difficult to control in the space manufacturing process as they float easily in a microgravity environment. Currently, filament materials are commonly used in space manufacturing experiments. But their accuracy and smoothness are not satisfactory, said Wang.

Chinese scientists developed a technology to mix the powder into a resin to form a paste, and then solidify it with digital light processing.

"Our team has spent more than two years studying how to make a paste that does not float freely in microgravity, which is the most creative and valuable part of the technology. We think the technology can be used in processing many sorts of fine particles," Wang said.

On June 12 and 13, they conducted 28 experiments under microgravity, two experiments under lunar gravity and two under Martian gravity on the European aircraft, producing ten ceramic and eight metal samples.

"We want to test whether we can make a regular object with a smooth surface with the technology, and we made ceramic cubes to see their micro-structure in different gravity conditions," said Wang.

In the metal casting experiments, they made samples including a screw and a small wrench.

"The samples are of good quality, which shows the technology can be applied in different gravity conditions, and verifies the feasibility of the technology," Wang said.

The technology could be used for in-situ, fast production of semiconductors, bio-scaffolds, optical parts and micro-electromechanical systems for space exploration, as well as in-situ utilization of lunar resources, and might have far-reaching impacts on space manufacturing.

The trial instruments require human operation. "Our long-term goal is to develop intelligent machines that can work on the Moon or Mars. But those machines will be more complicated," Wang said.

"Elon Musk and SpaceX are developing technologies to take people to other planets, and we are developing technologies to help them survive," Wang added.

 

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Chinese scientists monitor global wheat pests and diseases
Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-19 21:23:47|Editor: ZX


BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists said they have released the first remote sensing monitoring report on wheat pests and diseases globally, providing references for early warning and solutions.

The report was conducted by scientists from the Vegetation Remote Sensing Research Team of the Aerospace Information Research Institute with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It shows the occurrence and development of typical wheat pests and diseases in ten wheat production countries in the Northern Hemisphere, namely China, Russia, France, Turkey, Pakistan, the United States, Germany, Iran, Uzbekistan, and the United Kingdom, during April and May.

Quantitative monitoring of major wheat pests and diseases, such as wheat rust, fusarium head blight, and aphids, was conducted, including spatial distribution, damage levels and areas.

The report was released on the website of the Crop Disease and Pest Monitoring and Forecasting System, which was developed by the research team to release remote sensing forecasting and monitoring of crop pests and diseases.

Pests and diseases have become one of the most important factors restricting agricultural production and threatening food security.

According to Huang Wenjiang, head of the team, remote sensing can effectively and objectively monitor the occurrence and development of crop pests and diseases on a large scale with the help of high-resolution satellites.

"In the future, our team will release monitoring reports of pests and diseases for more crops including maize, rice, and soybeans to provide support for agricultural production," Huang said.

 

[JSCh]

Construction of China’s LHAASO cosmic ray observatory officially underway
by Weida Li Jun 20, 2018 06:57

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of China’s 1.2-bn-yuan (US$174m) Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) on Tuesday, June 19, following eight years of preparation.

LHAASO is located 4,410 metres above sea level in the Haizi Mountain in Sichuan Province in southwest China and when it opens it will attempt to understand the origins of high-energy cosmic rays.

Cosmic rays are particles that arrive from outer space which have been accelerated to energies higher than those that can be achieved in even the largest man-made particle accelerators. First detected over 100 years ago, the origin of cosmic rays has remained a mystery.

LHAASO will also aim to provide insights into the mysteries of dark matter, dark energy, as well as the origins and evolutions of the universe, according to Chinese news outlet China.com.

The facility is designed to detect cosmic rays over a wide range of energies from 1011–1018 electron volts using a Cherenkov water detector, covering a total area of 80,000 square metres, PhysicsWorld reports.

When completed, LHAASO will add to facilities around the world trying to study the origin of cosmic rays, along with the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina and the IceCube facility at the South Pole.

According to researcher He Huihai, professor at the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and deputy manager of the project, LHAASO will boast the highest high-energy gamma ray detection sensitivity and the most extensive cosmic ray energy measurement range.

The project’s 1.3-square-kilometre site will be jointly constructed by CAS and the Sichuan provincial government and is set to open between 2022 and 2023.

The international collaboration project, which includes scientists from China, France, Italy, Russia, Switzerland and Thailand, was formally approved by the National Development and Reform Commission of China in December 2015.

Construction of China’s LHAASO cosmic ray observatory officially underway | GBTIMES

 

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China is developing smart rocket able to plot own flight plan
CGTN
2018-06-30 17:06 GMT+8

China is developing a smart rocket that can rectify mechanical failures during flight and plot a new flight path.

The rocket, which is being developed by a project team with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, will have the ability to perceive, judge, plan, and execute flight corrections by itself. It will be equipped with an advanced reusable power system that can be switched on and off repeatedly.

Based on its flight mission, capabilities and external environment, the rocket can automatically devise the best flight control plan and complete its own space launch.

The ultimate goal of rocket launches is to enter the targeted orbit. In case of non-fatal malfunctions, those with non-explosive or non-structural damage, the smart rocket can respond and make adjustments by itself, including entering emergency rescue orbit and returning to base, to minimize losses.

"If there was an engine malfunction, an ordinary rocket may fail to complete its mission and risk of falling or collision," said Gao Lei, chief designer of the project team.

The smart rocket, however, could quickly evaluate the situation and its capabilities, and make a new flight plan. For example, if it loses power, the rocket would maximize its capabilities to set a new target, such as entering a lower orbit, and gradually reaching the original target after orbital transfer by satellites and other payloads, to complete the mission, Gao said.

Shang Teng, a member of the project team, said that the smart rocket could also reduce launch costs, and all carrier rockets in active service would be upgraded to smart rockets in the future.

(Top image via VCG)

 

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China to develop new series of carrier rockets: expert
Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-02 14:49:35|Editor: ZX


BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- China aims to develop a new series of small, medium, large and heavy-lift Long March carrier rockets by 2030 to meet the demands of its space operations, according to an expert.

The capacity of Chinese rockets would reach 140 tonnes for low-Earth orbit, 44 tonnes for Earth-Mars transfer orbit, 50 tonnes for Earth-Moon transfer orbit and 66 tonnes for geosynchronous transfer orbit in 2030, said Long Lehao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a chief designer at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, when delivering a speech in Tsinghua University.

One of the new generation rockets would be the heavy-lift Long March-9. The rocket would have a core stage with a diameter of 10 meters, and four boosters with a diameter up to 5 meters.

The takeoff weight of the 93-meter-high Long March-9 would exceed 4,000 tonnes, and its takeoff thrust would be close to 6,000 tonnes. The rocket would be able to carry a payload of 140 tonnes into low-Earth orbit, Long said.

The Long March-9 would have two variants: one with two boosters and the other one with no booster.

Some breakthroughs had been achieved on the technologies of the Long March-9.

It could be used in manned lunar landings, deep space exploration and constructing a space-based solar power plant, Long said.

China is also developing reusable space rocket, the Long March-8, which is expected to make its maiden flight around 2021. It will have two stages and two boosters. The first stage and boosters are expected to be retrieved through vertical landing, said Long.

A variant, the Long March-8A will be equipped with two larger boosters and an upper stage.

China has developed more than 10 types of carrier rockets, sending more than 400 spacecrafts into space, including more than 60 commercial satellite launches for over 20 countries. The success rate and the orbit injection accuracy are among the world's highest.

 

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Space data services set to take off
By Liu Yukun and Li Wenfang in Zhuhai, Guangdong | China Daily | Updated: 2018-07-03 12:58

The Zhuhai-1 satellites can provide data services to sectors including agriculture, urban planning, transportation and environmental protection. [Photo/VCG]

Aerospace company readies to tap expanding commercial applications

Civil aerospace equipment company Zhuhai Orbita Aerospace Science & Technology Co Ltd set up a space data trading center in June, in order to tap the growing commercial applications of space technology.

The move comes two months after the company, which specializes in the production and sale of integrated circuit designs, had its Zhuhai-1 remote sensing satellites deployed from a single-carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province－opening up a major channel for commercial space data services.

Space data, or information relayed from satellites, is an emerging field with growing signs of dominating big data applications－the use of huge sets of data in multiple areas.

"The satellites have an overview of all that's happening on Earth. That can be significant for businesses and organizations, to help them with their various challenges and needs," said Duan Yilong, Zhuhai Orbita's board secretary.

"The Zhuhai-1 satellites can provide data services to sectors including agriculture, urban planning, transportation and environmental protection," Duan said.

In transportation, for example, information the company has collected shows that a highway linking Zhuhai with Jiangmen and other cities in South China's Guangdong province, as well as Hong Kong and Macao, is more likely to experience heavier traffic than other major roads. Similarly, in agriculture, space data can be used to monitor land and other factors influencing crop growth.

"We are also working with the government on data monitoring and extending the use of data in other fields," Duan said.

But the company has also faced significant obstacles, with the lack of professionals in the area a major concern, Duan said.

"Skilled workers are more willing to head to Beijing or Shanghai, where the aerospace industry is mainly based.

"We are eyeing more talent to help us cope with rapid development and the situation has improved in the past few years," Duan said, adding that the company has been offering housing compensation and more financial support to attract and retain professionals.

The Zhuhai National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone, where the company is based, is also working to foster a better business environment, including investments in business incubators where startups can tap management training and other resources.

The startups can help form an important supply chain covering space-related technology and equipment manufacturing, which will benefit all industry players by cutting communication and transport costs, Duan said.

 

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China space program's "Super 2018"
New China TV
Published on Jul 4, 2018

China has completed 18 space missions in the first half of this year, which equals the total of last year.

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Chinese version

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This is just part one, let hope the second half of "Super 2018" would be just as good if not better !!

 

[JSCh]

China plans to launch new space science satellites around 2020
Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-25 08:56:51|Editor: Xiang Bo


HARBIN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China is striving to send a group of new satellites into orbit around 2020, as part of the country's fast-expanding space science program, a national science official said at a space conference on Tuesday.

The satellites include a Sino-European joint mission known as "SMILE," which will focus on the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth magnetosphere, according to Wang Chi, director of the National Space Science Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, or SMILE, will also help study magnetospheric substorms, so as to further our understanding of the impact of solar activities on Earth's environment and space weather, Wang said.

The Einstein-Probe, also among the new satellites, is tasked with discovering celestial bodies that emit X-rays during fierce changes as well as quiescent black holes with transient high-energy radiation, Wang said.

The satellites also include the Advanced Space-borne Solar Observatory (ASO-S) and the Gravitational Wave Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM). The former will help scientists understand the causality among magnetic fields, flares, and coronal mass ejections, and the latter is aimed at searching for electromagnetic signals associated with gravitational waves.

The Water Cycle Observation Mission (WCOM) will become world's first satellite to help scientists better understand Earth's water cycle by simultaneous and fast measurement of key parameters such as soil moisture, ocean salinity, and ocean surface evaporation, according to Wang.

The Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere Coupling Exploration (MIT),is also in the satellite group. MIT aims at investigating the origin of upflow ions and their acceleration mechanism and discovering the key mechanism for the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere coupling.

While Europe and the United States have traditionally led in scientific development, China has emerged as a new science and technology player in recent years.

However, compared with leading powers in space, China is still going through unbalanced development in space scientific research, technology, and application.

Hopefully, these new space science satellites will help roll up the curtain of change, said Wang. "We hope to build a state lab for space science as soon as we can and achieve a significant breakthrough in the space field by 2030."

On July 4, 2018, the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced in Beijing Huairou Science City that the “Space Science (Phase II)” strategic pilot technology project was officially launched.

Einstein Probe(EP)

Advanced Space-borne Solar Observatory (ASO-S)

Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE)

Gravitational Wave Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM)

太阳风-磁层相互作用全景成像卫星（SMILE）

引力波暴高能电磁对应体全天监测器（GECAM）

超长波天文观测阵列
Ultra-Long Wavelength Radio Astronomy Array

系外宜居行星探测
Extraterrestrial habitable planet discovery

小天体探测及采样返回
Small celestial bodies exploration and sampling return​

 

[JSCh]

China launches new space science program
Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-04 20:26:12|Editor: Liangyu


BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- China Wednesday launched a new space science program focusing on the origin and evolution of the universe, black holes, gravitational waves and relationship between the solar system and human.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced to develop a group of four satellites in the program.

The program includes a satellite named "Einstein-Probe (EP)", which is tasked with discovering celestial bodies that emit X-rays during fierce changes as well as quiescent black holes with transient high-energy radiation.

The Advanced Space-borne Solar Observatory (ASO-S) will help scientists understand the causality among solar magnetic fields, flares and coronal mass ejections.

The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, or SMILE, which is a Sino-European joint mission, will focus on the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth magnetosphere.

The program also includes the Gravitational Wave Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM), which is aimed at searching for electromagnetic signals associated with gravitational waves.

The program is expected to attract the outstanding scientists and engineers in China to achieve scientific breakthroughs and technological innovation, said Wang Chi, director of the National Space Science Center under CAS.

Over the past few years, China has launched a series of space science satellites, including the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE),the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS) and the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT).

 

[JSCh]

China Launches Strategic Priority Program on Space Science Phase II
Jul 05, 2018

On July 4, 2018, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) officially launched the strategic pioneer program on space science (phase II) at Beijing Huairou Science City. Upon great scientific achievements by Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), Hard X-Ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT), ShiJian-10 Recoverable Satellite, etc. from Phase I, the program will launch four more space science satellites in the next five years.

The new patch of space science satellites, includes Einstein Probe (EP), Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), ESA-CAS Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE), all of which has officially entered its engineering phase. Gravitational Wave High-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) is carrying out Phase A study, and will enter engineering phase soon.

ESA-CAS Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE). (Image by ESA ATG Medialab)​

The four missions mainly focus on time-domain high-energy astrophysics, the relationship between solar magnetic field and solar eruptions, interactions between the solar wind and magnetosphere, and the detection of gravitational wave electromagnetic counterpart from gamma-ray bursts.

The priority program has also deployed a number of projects including conceptual study, intensive study, pre-research, space science mission planning and data analysis, etc.

The Enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry Mission (eXTP) is among the six major projects under intensive research. It is a major international cooperation program led by China and participated by more than 20 countries.

With the scientific targets of "one singularity (black holes), two stars (neutron stars and magnetars) and three extremes (gravity, magnetism and density)", it is designed to observe black holes, neutron stars, and magnetars to better understand the physics in extreme conditions of gravity, magnetism and density.

Other projects under intensive study will carry out a series of key technological endeavors in fields such as space gravitational wave detection, origin and evolution law of the universe, birth of the solar system, detection of earth-like planets outside the solar system, etc.

Gravitational Wave High-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM). (Image by ESA ATG Medialab)​

Einstein Probe (EP) will perform all-sky monitoring and explore the cosmic high-energy transients. It may shed light on answers to questions such as the origin and evolution of black hole population, generation mechanism of gravitational waves, and their effects and life cycle of the first generation of stars, re-ionization, etc.

Advanced Space-borne Solar Observatory (ASO-S) will reveal the multiple relationships between solar magnetic field, solar flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).

Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) was jointly proposed and developed by Chinese Academy of Sciences and European Space Agency. It is expected to determine when and where transient and steady magnetopause reconnection dominates, define the substorm cycle, including timing and flux transfer amplitudes, as well as the development of CME-driven storms. With the new soft X-ray Imager and ultra-violet imager as its payloads, SMILE will carry out global imaging of the interaction between solar wind and magnetosphere for the first time.

Gravitational Wave High-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) is a "mission of opportunity" project proposed for the detection of gravitational wave high energy electromagnetic counterpart in space. With the joint observation by satellites and ground gravitational wave detector, it facilitates the discovery of gravitational wave electromagnetic counterpart gamma-ray burst and new radiation phenomena.



China Launches Strategic Priority Program on Space Science Phase II---Chinese Academy of Sciences