China's Space Program News Thread

[KampfAlwin]

Ooooooooo! Tianwen-2 sample return in 2028, to use LM-9B or LM-5 + LM-3.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1407912908151873540

CZ-8 to make booster and stage recovery next year.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1407922233192837121

There's a lot to unpack from this lecture such as more Tianwen-1 landing footage, a space-based solar power project in the works and multiple spaceplanes!


Btw, this lecture was conducted in HKU, done by Long Lehao, a rocket designer. Here is the full video:

 

[Temstar]

And, according to the presenter, the CZ-8R recovery is targeting the end of 2022.

Oh wow

 

[Kejora]

921 rocket now called CZ-5DY. Latest design appears to have no launch abort tower compared to previous. I'm guessing it's integrated into the new space capsule?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1407953924515143683

Yes

 

[escobar]

It appears the latest iteration of LM-9 is now 2-stage, with no side boosters. Perhaps done for a possible stage recovery? It also uses new engines, YF-135, I've never heard of this. Don't know what will happen to YF-130

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1407907839683690499

An iteration with a new engine? Maybe They have trouble with those powerful Y-90/Y-130...
YF-135 & 120t LH2 based on YF-77 probably more doable....

 

[Blitzo]

An iteration with a new engine? Maybe They have trouble developing Y-90/Y-130...

The arrangement of the engines on the first stage looks awfully much like what you'd expect a first stage intended to be reusable would be like.

I suspect if the previous engines in the works were appropriate for this configuration they would've continued pursuing it, rather than developing a whole new engine.
E.g.: the 921 rocket/CZ-5DY will be using YF-100K, derived from an existing engine.
If they're pursuing a new YF-135 instead of YF-90 or YF-130, chances are it's because those two are not deemed appropriate for the new requirements of the new configuration.

 

[Kejora]

It appears the latest iteration of LM-9 is now 2-stage, with no side boosters. Perhaps done for a possible stage recovery? It also uses new engines, YF-135, I've never heard of this. Don't know what will happen to YF-130

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1407907839683690499

While the first stage engines cluster resemble SpaceX Super Heavy, overall the rocket's configuration reminds me of Saturn V.

Saturn V:
Height: 110 m
First stage:

• Diameter: 10.1m
• Thrust: 5× F1 35,000 kN

Second stage:

• Diameter: 10.1m
• Thrust: 5× J2 5,141 kN

Third stage

• Diameter: 6.6m
• Thrust: 1× J2 1033 kN

Long March 9:
Height: 108m
First stage:

• Diameter: 10.6m
• Thrust: 16× YF-135 57,600 kN

Second stage:

• Diameter: 10.6m
• Thrust: 4× 120ton engine 4,800 kN

Third stage:

• Diameter: 7.5m
• Thrust: 1× 120ton engine 1,200 kN

 

[siegecrossbow]

Zhurong's progress.

Courtesy of NASA's MRO, taken on June 11th. Track is clearly visible (in blue).

Compared with June 6th.

 

[Jiang ZeminFanboy]

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But it wasn't about a Mars equipment mission 2033 first? And later crewed?

 

[Kejora]

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But it wasn't about a Mars equipment mission 2033 first? And later crewed?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1407959149929975810

 

[voyager1]

Western media have already began hyping the Chinese passing the US for getting to Mars lol

IMO this is more of China being 1 step behind SpaceX plans for Mars than anything else. Unfortunately we will have to suffer another week of media hyperbole of "how the Chinese will win the space race"...