China's Space Program News Thread

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Colonel
induction charging, isnt that really inefficient? might have just been easier to throw on the solar panel. Otherwise there is always the risk of damage when it lands on the rover over and over.

I think the charging is even faster through induction means. Likely the Martian Heli will land a distance away from the rover.
 

Overbom

Brigadier
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Is the endurance time of 3 minutes enough for the Mars Helicopter to do some useful work?
Any info on how much is NASA's endurance time?
 

by78

General
induction charging, isnt that really inefficient? might have just been easier to throw on the solar panel. Otherwise there is always the risk of damage when it lands on the rover over and over.
I don't think charging efficiency or charging time matters much, as the helicopter won't be flying frequently. It has lots of time to recharge through the less efficient wireless method. Sticking a solar panel on the helicopter – as NASA has done to its Mars helicopter – probably presents a different set of compromises: the extra weight of the solar panels might mean a smaller battery and therefore less endurance, not to mention a smaller payload capacity for useful instruments. As for the risk of damaging the rover, we'll have to withhold judgement until we see the design of the future rover and what kinds of special accommodations it will have for the helicopter, but I doubt the small helicopter can damage the rover in a significant way.

Is the endurance time of 3 minutes enough for the Mars Helicopter to do some useful work?
Any info on how much is NASA's endurance time?
Three minutes fly time is quite decent. The helicopter can travel up to 300 meters per minute, so a two-way straight line trip can theoretically cover 450 meters. Of course, in an area survey, it won't cover as much distance, but it should still be able to survey an area far larger than what the rover can traverse in days or weeks. You have to remember that these rovers on average travel very slowly to prevent wear and tear, and they stop frequently to examine interesting surface features, not to mention their long periods of hibernation. For example, it took the Curiosity 8 years to cover a distance of 14 miles. So the endurance is fine. I bring up the rover because the Chinese helicopter is intended to be a guide for the rover by searching ahead for points of interest.

P.S. NASA's
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was designed to fly up to 90 seconds and can cover a distance of 300 meters.
 
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Andy1974

Senior Member
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The helicopter should allow the rover to travel much faster than previous ones, as it is scouting and mapping ahead of the rover.
 

by78

General
Some excerpts from a paper on a novel grid fin design. The paper is not accessible. My technical Chinese is limited, but if I'm reading this correctly, the V-shaped grid fin design exhibits better control characteristics and can be made lighter than the traditional grid fin. I can't make out much beyond that because unlike some, I don't have degrees in engineering physics and astronautics.

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iantsai

Junior Member
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Tianzhou-3 cargoship is planned to launch in September 20. Wenchang government announced a local traffic control plan for the roads around the launch site today:

Three hours before launching, only vehicles with special license are permitted to enter seven nearby roads. One hours before launching, no vehicle is permitted to enter these roads.

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by78

General
The hydrogen liquefaction system developed by the 6th academy of CASC. It will be used to produce hydrogen fuel for China's new launch vehicles such as the LM-5. It also has strategic applications outside the space industry, specifically the nascent hydrogen economy.

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