China's Space Program News Thread

[taxiya]

The CZ-5B is essentially the booster and first stage of the 3-stage CZ-5. From Wikepedia

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Version	CZ-5	CZ-5B
Boosters​	4 × CZ-5-300, 2 × YF-100​	4 × CZ-5-300, 2 × YF-100​
First stage​	CZ-5-500, 2 × YF-77​	CZ-5-500, 2 × YF-77​
Second stage​	CZ-5-HO, 2 × YF-75D​	--​
Third stage (optional)​	Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!	--​
Thrust (at ground)​	10565 KN​	10565 KN​
Launch weight​	867,000 kg​	849,000 kg Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Height​	62 m​	53.66 m​
Payload ( Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content! 200 km)​	--​	~25,000 kg Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Payload ( Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content! )​	~14,000 kg Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!	--​
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Mechanically you are right about CZ-5 and 5B after all they are made of same hardware. However, Quickie is right in pointing out the difference that is significant enough to treat the two as different launchers.

The first stage of CZ-5 variant and the huge core stage CZ-5B is still essentially quite different.

The core stage of CZ-5B is slightly longer than the CZ-5 first stage and, in addition, they still have to test the integrity of the payload structure (that is now newly built into the core stage) holding the huge payload(s), the releasing mechanism for them, fairings etc. The CZ-5 variant first stage, which consists mainly of the tanks for the fuel and oxidizer, is directly attached to the second stage.

@Quickie, if I am right, the core stage of CZ-5B is of the same dimension as CZ-5, but CZ-5 core stage is not fully loaded while CZ-5B core is. That difference is reflected in the fact that CZ-5B's first stage burns longer time so it reaches orbit (LEO) while CZ-5's first stage does not. It is neccessary for this extra burn time, because CZ-5B's payloads (the space station modules) can not reach orbit on their own.

The perception of a longer core stage may be due to the judgement of determining visually where the payload adapter (inter-stage) or fairing begins.

 

[Quickie]

Mechanically you are right about CZ-5 and 5B after all they are made of same hardware. However, Quickie is right in pointing out the difference that is significant enough to treat the two as different launchers.



@Quickie, if I am right, the core stage of CZ-5B is of the same dimension as CZ-5, but CZ-5 core stage is not fully loaded while CZ-5B core is. That difference is reflected in the fact that CZ-5B's first stage burns longer time so it reaches orbit (LEO) while CZ-5's first stage does not. It is neccessary for this extra burn time, because CZ-5B's payloads (the space station modules) can not reach orbit on their own.

The perception of a longer core stage may be due to the judgement of determining visually where the payload adapter (inter-stage) or fairing begins.

I remember reading somewhere the CZ-5B single core stage is an elongated variant of the CZ-5 first stage.

This picture seems to confirm it.

 

[foxmulder_ms]

I remember reading somewhere the CZ-5B single core stage is an elongated variant of the CZ-5 first stage.

This picture seems to confirm it.

I think there is no elongation of the 1st stage. Picture is not perfectly aligned + connection of the 1st stage to 2nd stage differs slightly. I am pretty confident it does not have bigger fuel or oxidizer tanks.

 

[by78]

LM-5 (left) vs LM-5B (right)... LM-5B is three meters shorter but has a longer cargo fairing (20.5m) compared to that of LM-5 (12.3m).

 

[taxiya]

I remember reading somewhere the CZ-5B single core stage is an elongated variant of the CZ-5 first stage.

This picture seems to confirm it.

This is how I believe it is a visual confusion rather than a length difference.


Unfortunately your photo is blocked by the water mark. I believe if you could find a clean comparison, you would see that the top of LH2 tank is at the same height, meaning that volume of LH2 is the same in both variant, it would be illogical to have different sizes of LOX tank between 5 and 5B.

P.S. CZ-5's core stage has the LOX on top of LH2, LOX tank is the section where you have the red CZ5 logo. LH2 tank is at the bottom, in between you have the inter-stage adapter (grooved section).

 

[hullopilllw]

When will be the next CZ-5 Series launch ?

 

[Rettam Stacf]

When will be the next CZ-5 Series launch ?

Two CZ-5 launches have been scheduled for 2020. The Tianwen-1 Mars Exploration Mission is planned for July.

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and the Chang'e 5 Lunar Exploration and Sample Return Mission is planned for late 2020.

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[taxiya]

This is how I believe it is a visual confusion rather than a length difference.
View attachment 60253

Unfortunately your photo is blocked by the water mark. I believe if you could find a clean comparison, you would see that the top of LH2 tank is at the same height, meaning that volume of LH2 is the same in both variant, it would be illogical to have different sizes of LOX tank between 5 and 5B.

P.S. CZ-5's core stage has the LOX on top of LH2, LOX tank is the section where you have the red CZ5 logo. LH2 tank is at the bottom, in between you have the inter-stage adapter (grooved section).

I made a mistake in the marking of the picture. LH2 and LOX should be swapped.

 

[by78]

The other side of the re-entry heat shield for the new manned capsule.

 

[gadgetcool5]

Any indication of the return to flight of the CZ-7? Does the CZ-7 second stage use the same booster at the CZ-5 second stage?