China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

 

[by78]

High-resolution images of the first stage of the Tianglong-3 launch vehicle. Tianbing plans to finish its assembly by May.

 

[by78]

According to this

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, the improved Long March 8 variant will have its maiden flight in June of 2024.

Compared to the basic LM-8, the improved variant will have a larger diameter final stage (increased from 3m to 3.34m) and a larger fairing (increased from 4.2m to 5.2m).

The improved Long March 8 variant has officially been named Long March 8A, or CZ-8A. Payload to SSO (700km) has been increased from 4 tons to 7 tons.

 

[by78]

A National Key Research and Development Center for Deep Space Exploration has been established. It's a joint venture between DSEL, the University of Science and Technology of China, and the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

 

[by78]

One more photo of the new Yuanwang space tracking ship. Both large stern arrays have been installed.

 

[luosifen]

"Moon Pot" lunar research station structural prototypes revealed:

The plan is to be able to build these using lunar soil and 3D printing.

 

[luosifen]

Experiment maintaining aquatic fish tank ecosystem on Tiangong:

 

[tacoburger]

Anyone want to speculate on how the recent leadership changes and the new aerospace force will change the Chinese space industry? I think that a lot more money/support will be poured into reusable rockets and satellite production and new military uses of space. With the rise of mega-constellations, the military value of space can no longer be ignored and they will have to be given the same treatment as the airforce or the navy. Hopefully the days of slow and steady, where 40 year rockets are still flying because "they just work" are over and the space industry learns to move faster and always tries to stay on the cutting edge.

 

[Bellum_Romanum]

Anyone want to speculate on how the recent leadership changes and the new aerospace force will change the Chinese space industry? I think that a lot more money/support will be poured into reusable rockets and satellite production and new military uses of space. With the rise of mega-constellations, the military value of space can no longer be ignored and they will have to be given the same treatment as the airforce or the navy. Hopefully the days of slow and steady, where 40 year rockets are still flying because "they just work" are over and the space industry learns to move faster and always tries to stay on the cutting edge.

Pres.Xi read your admonition and I do hope in all seriousness that your insight is correct.

 

[tacoburger]

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