China's Space Program News Thread

[escobar]

Aren't they using an existing rocket for the first stage? Is this an entirely new platform?

New platform. It land horizontally at Alxa Zuoqi in Inner Mongolia.

 

[ougoah]

The combined cycle engine for this spaceplane has been tested two years ago? Or was that test without the combined cycle and the recent one a test of that propulsion?

 

[Quickie]

Cost is per launch? If so, the cost is $3870 per kg and $2931.9 for LEO, respectively. While this is less than that of traditional rockets it still exceeds that of Falcon 9 and Falcon heavy by quite a bit. When Starship enters the equation it would be even more lopsided.

It can be made much cheaper if the first stage consisting of a rocket stage carrying the spacecraft carrier is made recoverable as well.

It can be made very competitive to SpaceX rockets since all the 3 stages of the launch system, i.e. the first stage rocket, spacecraft carrier, the spacecraft/payload are recoverable, unlike SpaceX rockets where only the first stage is recoverable.

 

[Skywatcher]

The combined cycle engine for this spaceplane has been tested two years ago? Or was that test without the combined cycle and the recent one a test of that propulsion?

I think this one (from CALT/CASC) is rocket powered, while the Tengyun from CASIC is the combined cycle.

 

[siegecrossbow]

It can be made much cheaper if the first stage consisting of a rocket stage carrying the spacecraft carrier is made recoverable as well.

It can be made very competitive to SpaceX rockets since all the 3 stages of the launch system, i.e. the first stage rocket, spacecraft carrier, the spacecraft/payload are recoverable, unlike SpaceX rockets where only the first stage is recoverable.

Yes but based on the projected timeline, a true SSTO horizontal takeoff and landing variant won’t be ready till near the middle of the century. Unless something catastrophic happens I’m sure starship will be operational by then.

This is why I think China should walk on two legs and investigate recoverable rockets, which it is doing with LM-8.

 

[Quickie]

Yes but based on the projected timeline, a true SSTO horizontal takeoff and landing variant won’t be ready till near the middle of the century. Unless something catastrophic happens I’m sure starship will be operational by then.

This is why I think China should walk on two legs and investigate recoverable rockets, which it is doing with LM-8.

I was referring to the TSTO carrier spacecraft China apparently just launched. The first stage rocket can be made recoverable to save cost.

 

[escobar]

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It will be oriented to orbital altitudes of between 300 to 500 kilometers, meet criteria of being “fast, reliable, and economical,” and meet the needs of military and civilian payloads, and be applicable for space tourism

Space bomber...

 

[supercat]

Two part post about China's space-plane projects:
Part 1:

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Part 2:

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[taxiya]

I am late and realize that there is a confusion here.

The recent test was the first stage that was vertically launched and horizontally landed. It is recoverable.

Here is the official announcement.

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2021年7月16日，由中国运载火箭技术研究院研制的亚轨道重复使用演示验证项目运载器在酒泉卫星发射中心准时点火起飞，按照设定程序完成飞行后，平稳水平着陆于阿拉善右旗机场

The launch site and the landing airport is only 100km apart. It can only be the first stage. This is the illustration from 重复使用航天运输系统发展与展望 in 2018 by Long Lehao.


The first picture below is the one tested.

 

[taxiya]

I was referring to the TSTO carrier spacecraft China apparently just launched. The first stage rocket can be made recoverable to save cost.

It is by design and the test just demonstrated it.