China's Space Program Thread II

[sunnymaxi]

CZ-9 Production Plant

Factory type: Largest in Asia, integrating multiple functional areas (vertical assembly/manufacturing plant)

Factory height: Over 100 meters, gate height over 80 meters, with a gantry crane on top

Crane bottom edge height: 96.5 meters

Height of the highest working platform from the ground: 79.5 meters

Construction Period: 771 days (approximately 2 years)

Expected Schedule: Land acquisition completed in 2028, factory construction completed in 2030, first rocket flight possibly not until 2035.


Rocket Specifications:

Diameter: Over 10 meters (specifically mentioned as 10.6 meters)

Height: Over 100 meters

Fairing: 16 meters in diameter, 40 meters in height

Rocket Configuration: Two or three stages; first stage is recoverable, second/third stages are not recoverable

Target Orbit: High Earth Orbit

tender has already issued so factory build up won't take 5 more years. all recent interviews hinting towards early 2030's first flight.

 

[CaribouTruth]

16m fairing size gave me a bit of a pause, a rudimentary comparison via spacelens


Another comp. by Chandler G. on Twitter/X

 

[Tomboy]

tender has already issued so factory build up won't take 5 more years. all recent interviews hinting towards early 2030's first flight.

To my understanding, the assembly building is a part of the purple zone, which should be completed by March of 2028. There is also going to be some engine test benches but that's going to take a year longer according to the plans. Full logistics and employee hostels and canteen will take till 2031 to be fully complete, but testing and maiden launch doesn't really need the full facility to be complete as long as the launch pad and fueling facility is ready.

 

[sunnymaxi]

Possible blueprints of the CZ-9 assembly factory has published on the Hainan gov' website. The factory has 100k m2 with a 85m tall gate. Through the blue print, we can peek some specs of the CZ-9. 10m diameter , has a 3 stages variant , fairings is huge with a diameter of 16m..




source - @raz_liu on twitter

 

[gpt]

Possible blueprints of the CZ-9 assembly factory has published on the Hainan gov' website. The factory has 100k m2 with a 85m tall gate. Through the blue print, we can peek some specs of the CZ-9. 10m diameter , has a 3 stages variant , fairings is huge with a diameter of 16m..

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source - @raz_liu on twitter

That's a pretty specific diameter. There must be some large habitats, (space solar?) arrays and spacecraft types currently in the design phase that they are fairly certain will require the extra volume. A wider payload bay allows them to launch large components completely pre-assembled or in sturdier segments.