China's Space Program News Thread

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taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
Any news on reusability?
As H2O has said, there is no plan for the moment, at least not in open source official study or papers.

There are voices of discussing reusable CZ-9 on the net, but they are all netizen's personal opinions.
 

Kejora

Junior Member
Registered Member
A recent picture circulating (the last picture) seems to tell the CZ-9's latest payload figures: LEO 180t and LTO 65t. For comparison the largest Ares V configuration (LV51.00.48) was LEO 187.7t and LTO (TLI) 62.8t.

The final SLS block II cargo is LEO 130t and LTO 45t. As can been seen SLS is not proper comparison with CZ-9. I say this because very often some members bring up SLS when talking about design rational behind CZ-9. However in reality CZ-9 is in the same class of Ares V in terms of the mission capability therefor shares the same rational with Ares V. SLS on the other hand is quite different philosophy and purpose.

Here is the progression of CZ-9 concept design:
The very early design, length: 93 meters, LEO 140t and LTO 50t, the 2nd stage engine is open circle (gas generator)
View attachment 70458
Then the 2nd stage engine is changed to close circle (staged combustion) and length grow to 103 meters, that is 10 meters longer meaning more fuel with a more efficient 2nd stage therefor more payload. But I did not find the corresponding ppt showing the new LEO payload figure. Strangely the LTO payload is 50t unchanged. I regard it as a mistake.
View attachment 70459
Here is a picture showed up very recently in the last month, just after the announcement of CZ-9 program. Note, there is no CASC logo with it. So I can't be sure of its authenticity. But considering the improved 2nd stage engine and increased fuel volume, the payload figures seem very reasonable. LEO 180t and LTO 65t.
View attachment 70460

Another interesting thing is the CZ-9B variant. There are four YF-130 engines arranged in a way that the twin nozzles in a cross shape. In the middle, there are two smaller nozzles. It is either that the two nozzles are of another YF-130 and the ppt is not in right proportion, or they belongs to two smaller engines (YF-100).
So like Ares V, LM-9 aren't intended to be human rated but to send lunar base modules to the moon with LM-921 as the human rated launch vehicle. Probably going to be used in Mars mission to launch habitation module and rendezvous with the LM-921 launched crewed spacecraft before going to Mars.
 

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
So like Ares V, LM-9 aren't intended to be human rated but to send lunar base modules to the moon with LM-921 as the human rated launch vehicle. Probably going to be used in Mars mission to launch habitation module and rendezvous with the LM-921 launched crewed spacecraft before going to Mars.
that is the initial and current plan for the moon. As of Mars mission, there is nothing official for the moment, but I assume something as you suggested IF by rendezvous before you mean rendezvous in LEO before. If you mean that, I want to emphasize that in moon program, the crew module will go straight to moon orbit and dock with the lander there instead of LEO, this is to reduce the number of rendezvous to reduce time and risk.
 

by78

General
A concept manned moon lander-rover combo.

51090714065_3042e4b801_o.jpg
 
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