China Space Military：Recon, Satcom, Navi, ASAT/BMD, Orbital Vehicle, SLV, etc.

[GS Zhou]

A low-profile news from SouthEast University confirms China's breakthrough in hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). The news also indicates this new HGV has a Precision-guided warhead, which should be attributed to Professor Cui's great work!!

中国航天科工集团来信感谢东南大学相关团队在国家重大科技专项中所做的突出贡献
发布者：李震发布时间：2017-02-24浏览次数：
近日，中国航天科工集团科技工程中心向我校发来感谢信，对于我校相关团队在国家某重大科技专项取得的历史性突破中所做的突出贡献表示感谢！

感谢信表示，2016年，国家有关重大科技专项任务取得了历史性突破，关键技术水平和能力实现了与国际强国的比肩与超越，为我国从航天大国迈向航天强国做出了重要贡献。“成绩的取得，离不开贵单位在结构动力学和末制导技术基础研究，以及结构产品研制等工作中的创新创业和刻苦攻关，离不开贵单位的大力支持和精诚合作，在此，对贵单位在推动科技工程发展中作出的突出贡献表示崇高的敬意”。

据悉，我校费庆国教授带领的飞行器动力学与控制团队、崔铁军教授带领的目标特性与精确制导团队分别承担了重大科技专项结构动力学和末制导技术相关的基础理论研究与关键技术攻关，为专项提供了重要支撑，做出了突出贡献。

感谢信最后表示，希望和期待今后与东南大学继续同舟共济、深化合作，为科技工程总目标的实现继续奋斗！并祝愿东南大学事业蒸蒸日上、再创辉煌！（东萱）

An old news about Professor Cui and his key research area

崔铁军：目前我的工作主要有两个方向。
一个方向是我在西电工作的延续。我在西电时就做电磁散射算法研究，研究雷达波照到已知复杂目标后它的散射特性如何，以及其反问题——根据雷达特性反演出未知目标物体。算法研究为什么重要呢？我简单解释一下。不管是在牛顿力学还是爱因斯坦相对论框架下，世界任何事情都可以用定理或公理来描述，比如万有引力定律、电磁学中所熟知的法拉第定律和安培定律等。电磁领域所有的定理或公理都只有一个核心，即麦克斯韦方程。
麦克斯韦是一位伟大的物理学家，把电磁领域的所有定理都统一成麦克斯韦方程。但这个方程具有解析解的条件非常苛刻。比如说，雷达波只有照到非常简单的目标如球体、平板或椭球体时才能用解析方法把其散射特征描述出来。所谓解析方法，即可以用数学公式直接表述出来。
但对于复杂物体，电磁波照射后尽管也有雷达回波或散射特征，但不存在解析解。这时我们需要把复杂物体离散化，将它分解为许多小单元或小网格，把麦克斯韦方程转换成矩阵方程，最后求解矩阵方程，便可获得复杂物体的雷达散射特征。
然而，当目标非常复杂时（如飞机、坦克甚至是航母），分解的网格数十分巨大。网格数越多，求解矩阵方程越困难，代价也越高。用传统的高斯消元法求解，其计算量和未知数的立方成正比。若未知数一万，用计算机可很快求解；如果未知数是十万，求解的时间和计算量就是原来的一千倍。当未知数是一百万或一千万时，计算机也很难求解。为了解决计算问题，便有了一个专门的学科叫做计算电磁学。我们就是寻找新的方法，有效地将复杂目标的计算简化，由原先的不可解变为可解。

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Can somebody summarize China's broad space capabilities here to me?

or perhaps point to some paper which does a good job?

In terms of space capabilities, I want to know the following:

What kind of earth observation capability is there in all domains, optical, Elint, Infrared, SAR; as well as the revisit time of these satellites.

 

[JSCh]

Rocket to haul commercial satellites
By ZHAO LEI | China Daily | Updated: 2017-02-27 05:05

China's biggest manufacturer of carrier rockets will soon begin to develop the next-generation Long March 8 medium-lift carrier rocket to meet the demands of commercial launch service, according to a senior manager.

Li Tongyu, head of carrier rocket development at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told China Daily that the Long March 8 will have a modular design and will use engines that have been used by the Long March 5 and Long March 7, both new rockets developed by the academy.

"Its core stage will be based on those used by the Long March 7 and Long March 3A, and it will have two solid-propelled boosters that are 2 meters in diameter," he said. "We will spend up to three years on its development and if everything goes well, its maiden flight will take place by the end of 2018."

Long March 8 will be capable of sending a payload of about 4.5 metric tons to a sun-synchronous orbit, or 2.5 tons to geosynchronous transfer orbit, he said. In a sun-synchronous orbit, a satellite circles the Earth at the same rate that the Earth orbits the sun, whereas with a geosynchronous orbit, the satellite matches the rotation of the Earth.

Li said use of the Long March 8 will extensively reduce the launch costs of low- and middle-orbit satellites, giving it bright prospects in the commercial launch market.

Researchers at the academy are currently developing the latest variant of the Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket. It will be tasked with placing the core module of the country's space station into orbit in 2018, he noted.

China plans to put a manned space station into service around 2022. It will consist of three parts — a core module attached to two space labs, each of which weigh about 20 tons. The facility is expected to be the world's only space station after the planned retirement of the International Space Station in 2024.

The first model in the country's heavy-lift rocket family, the 57-meter-tall Long March 5, made its maiden flight in November. It is China's mightiest carrier rocket and one of the world's most powerful launch vehicles currently in operation.

The second launch of the Long March 5 will be made in June to lift a large communications satellite into space. Before the end of 2017, China will conduct the rocket's third mission, sending the Chang'e 5 lunar probe to the moon, according to Li.

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology also has opened preliminary research on a super-heavy rocket that will have a takeoff weight of 3,000 tons and can transport a 140-ton payload into low Earth orbit.

If research and development go well, the super-heavy rocket will carry out its first flight around 2030, allowing China to land astronauts on the moon, and to send and retrieve Mars probes, designers at the academy said.


Space business booms: Over 80 launches in next 3 years

China's rocket scientists should plan on being quite busy in the next three years.

More than 80 launch missions are set during that time, according to the research head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the country's biggest rocket developer.

Users have confirmed schedules for 84 launch missions before 2020, and the academy plans to produce 100 Long March carrier rockets in the coming three years to meet the demand, Li Tongyu, director of carrier rocket development at the academy, told China Daily.

"Our Long March rockets have been recognized by domestic and foreign clients as being good and reliable. The academy's products have fulfilled 162 out of the nation's 245 spaceflights," he said.

Models of the academy's rockets, including the new Long March 5 and Long March 7, will be displayed at the 2017 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defense Exposition in Geelong, Victoria, from Tuesday to Sunday.

"Our rockets are completely compatible with satellites developed by the United States and Europe. Our charges and insurance premiums are more competitive than those of others. Our upper stage, with engines that can be repeatedly started, allows clients to send multiple satellites into different orbits during a single mission, which means they can save a lot of money," Li said. "We want to use the air show to meet our potential clients to know what they need and to figure out solutions."

China has been a major player in the international commercial launch market since the 1990s, when it started to provide launch service to overseas clients.

China has fulfilled more than 50 commercial missions, carrying 60 satellites into space for overseas firms.

In China, a commercial space mission generally refers to a space activity financed by an entity other than a Chinese government or military agency.

Li said while the Long March 5 and Long March 7 have received many orders from Chinese authorities and will have a tight launch schedule, the academy also is seeking more business from the international market.

As China's new-generation heavy-lift rocket, the Long March 5 has a liftoff weight of 870 metric tons, a maximum payload capacity of 25 tons to low Earth orbit and 14 tons to geosynchronous transfer orbit, where the orbit matches the Earth's rotation. The Long March 7, with a liftoff weight of 597 tons, can send 13.5 tons into low Earth orbit and 5.5 tons into sun-synchronous orbit.

The academy founded ChinaRocket Co in October to tap the commercial launch market. The new company will put four types of rockets developed by the academy into the market, covering all orbits suitable for commercial space missions, its managers said.

Han Qingping, president of ChinaRocket, previously said his company will develop a reusable spacecraft to ferry travelers to around 100 kilometers above the Earth to experience weightlessness.

 

[onebyone]

天舟一号货运飞船(Tianzhou)

 

[JSCh]

New-generation weather satellite delivers first batch of images, data
(Xinhua) 18:45, February 27, 2017

Fengyun-4, the first of China's second-generation geostationary orbiting weather satellites, has sent its first collection of images and data.

The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) and the China Meteorological Administration published the images and data on Monday, signaling the successful upgrade of China's meteorological system.

The published images were obtained by the multi-channel scanning imagery radiometer and the atmospheric sounding interferometer, and information included data on the distribution and intensity of lightening, obtained by the lightening imaging sensor, according to Tian Yulong, chief engineer of the SASTIND.

Fengyun-4 was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Dec. 11, 2016.

All major tests on functionality and imaging modes have been completed. It is expected to be fully operational in June or July.

China has successfully launched 15 weather satellites, eight of which are still in orbit.

 

[onebyone]

The first image has taken on Feb 20th 2017

https://twitter.com/x/status/836497853337890816

Launch posponed to March 3, 07:44-08:20 local?

 

[cirr]

China to Conduct Test Flight of CZ-8 Carrier Rocket by 2018

by Staff Writers

Beijing (Sputnik) Feb 28, 2017

File image.


China is planning to develop the next-generation CZ-8 (Long March 8) medium-lift carrier rocket and will conduct the first test flight by the end of 2018, Li Tongyu, the head of carrier rocket development at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology said Monday.

The core-stage of CZ-8 will be based on CZ-7 and CZ-3A (Long March 3A) carrier rockets, the CZ-8 is expected to have two solid-propelled boosters with a diameter of 6.5 feet, the representative added.

"If everything goes well, its maiden flight will take place by the end of 2018," Li said, as quoted by the China Daily newspaper.

The rocket will be able to deliver a payload of about 4.5 metric tons to a sun-synchronous orbit, or 2.5 tons to geosynchronous transfer orbit, according to Li.

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the parent company of the the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is the leading space launch vehicle manufacturer in China.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/C...light_of_CZ_8_Carrier_Rocket_by_2018_999.html

 

[samsara]

https://twitter.com/x/status/836497853337890816

Launch posponed to March 3, 07:44-08:20 local?

Kaituozhe-2 (KT-2)

The Kaituozhe-2 (KT-2) is a solid-fueled launch vehicle based on the DF-31 missile.

KT-2 (Kaituozhe 开拓者 means 'pioneer' ) was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASIC). Two versions were proposed.

The Kaituozhe-2 features a DF-31 based stage 1, topped by a smaller diameter stage 2 and 3. It has reportedly a payload of 800 kgs to low earth orbit.

The Kaituozhe-2A features a DF-31 based stage 1, augmented by two DF-21 based strap-on boosters. It features a stage 2 with the same diameter as the stage 1 and the same smaller diameter stage 3 as the Kaituozhe-2. It has reportedly a payload of 2,000 kgs to low earth orbit.

Originally it had been thought that the development of this rocket was stopped along with the Kaituozhe-1 (KT-1), but later there were indication of a continued development.

The maiden flight of a Kaituozhe-2A appears to be planned for February 2017 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest China's Gansu Province.

Source: Gunter's Space Page

Note: the new launch schedule is now expected on March 3 at 07:44-08:20 BJT... the rocket will launch Tiankong-1 satellite.

 

[samsara]

Powerful new satellite to be launched in April

By Zhao Lei | China Daily | Updated: 2017-02-17

It will be part of a huge network that will expand the nation's Wi-Fi access

Artistic rendition of China's first HTS, Shijian-13 (Xinhuanet)

China will launch its most advanced communications satellite in April as it builds a large capacity network that will enable passengers on jetliners and high-speed trains to use the internet.

Shijian 13, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, will be lifted on a Long March 3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province.

The satellite, which weighs 4.6 metric tons, will stay for 15 years in a geostationary orbit about 36,000 kilometers above Earth, the academy said.

The satellite features a Ka-band broadband communications system capable of transmitting 20 gigabytes of data per second, making it the most powerful communications satellite the nation has developed.

Shijian 13 will use electric propulsion after it enters orbit, which will extensively reduce the chemical fuel the satellite carries. Moreover, it will conduct space-to-ground laser communications experiments, the academy said.

In June, the Shijian 18 communications satellite, the first developed based on China's new-generation DFH 5 satellite platform, will be lifted by a Long March 5 rocket at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, according to the academy.

It said the transmission capacity of the satellite to be launched in June is double that of current Chinese communications satellites, allowing more television channels and clearer programs to be transmitted. The new satellite will also improve internet connectivity and accessibility as well as reduce users' costs.

Wang Min, deputy head of the academy's Institute of Telecommunication Satellite, said China plans to establish a constellation of advanced communications satellites based on DFH 4 and DFH 5 platforms by 2025 and, after the plan is fulfilled, people will be able to use high-quality Wi-Fi service anywhere and anytime, including on bullet trains and planes.

Li Feng, chief designer at the institute, said many domestic users have said they look forward to the service of new-generation communications satellites, while some foreign satellite operators have also expressed interest.

The academy has made seven communications satellites for overseas users, including Pakistan, Venezuela and Laos, and is implementing export contracts for more than 10 such satellites, said Zhou Zhicheng, head of the Institute of Telecommunication Satellite.

However, he said the country still needs to catch up with the top developers of communications satellites in the United States and Europe, such as Boeing and Thales Alenia Space, when it comes to satellite technology and capacity.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-02/17/content_28234069.htm

======================================

China hopes to cover flights and trains with internet under new satellite plan

2017-02-17 CRIENGLISH.com Editor: Wang Fan

Artistic rendition of China's first HTS, Shijian-13 (Xinhuanet)

China is hoping to make the internet available in aircraft cabins, high speed trains or even remote mountainous areas, thanks to six communication satellites it's planning to send into orbit this year, according to China National Radio.

The first satellite - Shijian-13 - is to be launched on a Long March 3B (also known as the CZ-3B) rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in April.

Shi Jian 13 is an experimental geostationary satellite, designed to test electric propulsion, with an orbital life of 15 years, according to Gunter's Space Page.

Deputy chief designer, Wang Min, says it's the country's first high-throughput satellite (HTS). It's capable of relaying traffic many times the speed of traditional fixed satellite services (FSS), for the same amount of allocated frequency on orbit, according to intelsat.com.

Later in the year, the scientific research satellite Shijian-18 will be delivered into orbit by the Long March 5B rocket in mid-2017, according to Space Flights News.

Zhou Zhicheng, director of the communications satellite department of the China Academy of Space Technology, said the launch of these communications satellites will help improve the prospects for China's satellite mobile communications system.

On a global scale, 24 communications satellites operating in orbit currently were manufactured by Chinese organizations, according to China National Radio.

http://www.ecns.cn/2017/02-17/245734.shtml


===================

"An increase in satellite throughput will provide better access to the Internet on planes and high-speed trains, said Wang Min, deputy head of the CAST's Institute of Telecommunication Satellite. For the first time, a large number of domestic components have been used on a communications satellite with an orbital life of 15 years, Wang said. It is also the first time electric propulsion has been used on a Chinese satellite."

"Shijian-13 has been transported to the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. After completing on orbit technical tests, it will be designated as Zhongxing-16. In 2017, China plans to launch six communications satellites, including Shijian-13 and Shijian-18. Shijian-18 will be put into orbit by a Long March-5 carrier rocket in June and will test the DFH-5 satellite platform, Wang added." (Xinhuanet)

~~~~~~~~~~

This new batch of high-throughput communication satellite (HTS) will even give direct benefits to folks like me to enjoy more TV channels in general and more channels delivered in HD in particular via satellite receiver Expect more HD TV broadcast from ChinaSat within this year... I have been witnessing more channels be upgraded to HD quality in 2016, incl the broadcast running on the NEW compression standard for digital audio and digital video: AVS or Audio Video Standard - read it here your satellite receiver (indoor unit) must be AVS-compliant to receive the AVS broadcast.

I wonder if anyone here install the satellite receiver system at home? Too bad, I don't see any Chit-Chat sub-thread (or Cafe Talks sub-thread) to talk about trivia, hobbies, interests, music, sports and so on [that do not fit the main topics here] among the PDF members in this forum. It'll be cool to have such cafeteria talks attached to the particular section, for instance to "The Far East section"...

 

[onebyone]

A0376/17 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N394023E1001211-N394321E0995133-N402032E1000031-N401733E1002119. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 02 MAR 23:44 2017 UNTIL 03 MAR 00:14 2017. CREATED: 28 FEB 07:06 2017
A0377/17 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N354133E0992000-N354519E0985353-N363835E0990528-N363445E0993152. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 02 MAR 23:45 2017 UNTIL 03 MAR 00:20 2017. CREATED: 28 FEB 07:08 2017

 

[Dungeness]

China launches experiment satellite "TK-1"
Editor Zhang Tao Time 2017-03-03
A+-

JIUQUAN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday launched an experiment satellite, "TK-1", from northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The satellite, carried by the rocket "KT-2", blasted off from the launch center at 7:53 a.m. Friday, and it later entered its intended orbit.

"TK-1" is the first satellite independently developed by China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp. (CASIC) and will be used for remote sensing, telecommunications and experiments in minisatellite-based technologies.

The "KT-2" rocket is one of the five carrier systems in the CASIC commercial space plan. It features high carrying efficiency and adaptability, according to the CASIC.

 

[samsara]

Breakthrough in new engines for lifting China’s future super heavy rocket CZ-9

People's Daily, China - 2017-03-03

Breakthrough in new engines for lifting #China’s future super heavy #rocket CZ-9

The development of China’s heavy-lift carrier rocket has officially entered the early stage of key technology research and the deepen argument of the program, of which the engine technology research has already achieved breakthrough.

The Long March 9 is expected to have a takeoff thrust of 3,000 tons, a Low Earth Orbit payload of 100 tons. “The larger the carrying capacity of rocket is, the larger the stage of spaceflight will be,” said Tan Yonghua, president of the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology and a national lawmaker. Tan noted that world’s space powers, such as #Europe, #Japan and #India, are continuously restarting the research and development program of the latest heavy-lift carrier rocket today. Meanwhile, China has also stepped up its own heavy-lift carrier rocket, Long March 9. It is expected to be launched for manned moon, Mars exploration and deeper space exploration missions around 2030. If the first launch succeeded, it would be expected to be the world’s largest-ever carrier rocket. (File pic)

 

[onebyone]

发射现场图

KT-Z2

“天鲲一号”卫星

快舟一号甲(KZ-1A)： 200kg/700km SSO；300kg LEO

开拓二号(KT-2)：250kg/700km SSO，350kg LEO

长征十一号(CZ-11)：350kg/700km SSO，750kg LEO

 

[onebyone]

 

[onebyone]

嫦娥五号(CE-5)探测器2017年发射
=========================================
http://www.leonarddavid.com/china-moon-exploration-change-5-lunar-probe-detailed/
China Moon Exploration: Chang’e-5 Lunar Probe Detailed

By Leonard David

March 3rd, 2017

Hu Hao, the chief designer of the third phase of China’s lunar exploration program.
Credit: CCTV-Plus

China space officials are underscoring the attributes of its Chang’e-5 lunar lander and return sample project.

Chang’e-5 is slated to become the country’s first lunar probe to automatically collect samples, launch on the Moon, and engage in an auto-pilot docking in lunar orbit, according to Hu Hao, the chief designer of the third phase of China’s lunar exploration program.

“The preparation of Chang’e 5 lunar probe is advancing steadily according to schedule,” Hu explains.

Challenges and breakthroughs

As reported by CCTV-Plus, the Chinese craft is scheduled for shipping to the Wenchang launch complex in August, then prepped for launch atop a Long March 5 carrier rocket around November.


Credit: CCTV-Plus

Hu notes that there are several challenges and breakthroughs the Chang’e-5 is going to make.

As for the primary task of collecting samples on the Moon, Hu said “one is using a drill. After the probe lands on the Moon, the drill will be used to collect samples beneath the surface. The other is to use a mechanical arm to collect samples on the surface, which contains unique information of the Moon.”

Return leg

Then there’s the return leg from the Moon back to Earth.

“We also have to design a docking in lunar orbit,” Hu added. “After the docking, the samples will be transferred, from the ascending part to the reentry capsule. This is also a complicated process.”


China’s Moon program intends to support a lunar sample return in 2017.
Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences

En route from lunar orbit, the reentry capsule is to fly back to Earth at roughly 11.2 kilometers per second.

Important link

Chang’e-5 is an important link in the whole lunar exploration project, Hu notes, a three-step initiative of flying around the Moon, landing on the Moon and returning to Earth.

Chang’e-1 and Chang’e-3 completed the first two steps, with Chang’e-5 set to complete the last step of returning to Earth.

China is readying a Long March-5 rocket for liftoff in the first half of this year. Following that launch, the timing of Chang’e-5’s flight will be determined.


Following a circumlunar voyage in 2014, a return capsule parachuted to Earth. This test was a prelude to China’s Chang’e-5 lunar mission being readied for its return sample mission later this year.
Courtesy: China Space

Technology roadmap

“To be realistic, [the lunar probe] will provide our scientists with qualified lunar samples for research, which will enable us to have a deeper understanding of the Moon,” Hu points out. “Technologically, a technology roadmap is necessary because it will be a good technological basis for our following deep space explorations and manned space travels to the Moon and other planets.”

Also on China’s Moon exploration agenda, Chang’e-4 — a backup probe for the Chang’e-3 — is slated to be launched in 2018. That probe is targeted to achieve the first ever soft-landing on the far side of the Moon.

For a view of Chang’e-5 preparations, go to these CCTV-Plus videos:

http://cd-pv.news.cctvplus.com/2017/0301/8044288_Preview_6255.mp4

http://pv.news.cctvplus.com/2017/0303/8044438_Preview_3189.mp4

http://pv.news.cctvplus.com/2017/0303/8044462_Preview_8867.mp4

2017.03.03开拓二号(Kaituo-2)小型固体运载火箭发射天鲲一号(Tiankun-1)新技术试验卫星

Kaituozhe-2 launches Tiankun-1

中國高度：天鯤一號試驗衛星發射成功