China's Space Program Thread II

[by78]

Zhongke/CAS Space will launch a pair of Mexican satellites (ThumbSat-1 and 2) very soon.

Zhongke/CAS Space has used a Lijian-1 to successfully launch seven satellites into orbit, including two from Mexico (ThumbSat-1 and -2). This was the 8th launch of Lijian-1. Also launched was AirSat-05, which is a X-band synthetic aperture radar satellite with a resolution of under 1m.

 

[by78]

Yet another horse has joined the race. ArkTech is a new startup aims to develop reusable launch vehicles, the details of which remain little known.

 

[by78]

The first image shows Zhongke's launch complex at Jiuquan. The launchpad for Lijian-1 is on the right, and the Lijian-2 launchpad is on the left. The last three images show the full scale model of Lijian-2 being used to practice launch procedures.

 

[ZachL111]

China will be releasing their first film using actual footage shot in space, set to debut on the 5th of September, becoming only the fourth nation to do this, with the Soviet Union/Russia, the United States, and Canada being the first three. (Counting Canada based on what I recall but I could be wrong, feel free to correct me).

 

[TheRathalos]

To improve the sustainability and innovation of China's manned lunar exploration missions, CAST proposed a solution for a manned lunar mobile laboratory capable of autonomous travel over 3,000 km, supporting three manned missions. This solution comprehensively improves the level and overall efficiency of China's manned lunar landing capabilities.


-Develop China's lunar sovereignty
-Highlight the innovation of the Chinese model
-Provide a new model for lunar scientific exploration
-Establish a technical foundation for future lunar experimental stations


The manned lunar mobile laboratory consists of two parts: the experimental module and the propulsion module, with a total mass of approximately 26 tons. Launch is scheduled for 2028.
-The experimental module has a mass of approximately 7.4 tons, ensuring the final approach and landing on the lunar surface, and supporting the presence and activities of crews on the Moon.
-The propulsion module is responsible for Earth-Moon cruise and orbit insertion and deceleration from lunar orbit. It is a close derivative of the propulsion module of the Lanyue manned lunar lander.
The reuse rate (percentage of commonality?) of manned lunar mobile laboratories and lunar lander products is 62%.

To be put in the context of the CNSA/CMSA plans for a manned pressurized mobile laboratory

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The 2028 date is exceedingly ambitious, and the 3-days length of the first chinese crewed lunar missions means it's unlikely it'd be used during it. However that date, the fact that it's obviously for the "low latitude" part of the chinese crewed lunar exploration, since it drives between landing point, and it uses a lanyue-cz-10 derivative means it's likely for the pre-ILRS period of chinese crewed lunar exploration, and may be expected for the early 2030s.

 

[tiancai8888]

Maybe CASC can make reusable CZ-10A ready earlier than LandSpace's ZQ-3? It's too ironic if that becomes true.

CZ-10A's priority is to verify the CZ-10. Don't expect it would land soon. According to the informed blogger/insider's podcast, no earlier than 2030. So basiclly is the ZQ-3 VS CZ-12A

 

[eric7]

View attachment 158778

To be put in the context of the CNSA/CMSA plans for a manned pressurized mobile laboratory

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

View attachment 158779

The 2028 date is exceedingly ambitious, and the 3-days length of the first chinese crewed lunar missions means it's unlikely it'd be used during it. However that date, the fact that it's obviously for the "low latitude" part of the chinese crewed lunar exploration, since it drives between landing point, and it uses a lanyue-cz-10 derivative means it's likely for the pre-ILRS period of chinese crewed lunar exploration, and may be expected for the early 2030s.

the 2028 date was most likely set in the year 2023 when this roll-up banner was made, and I agree it should be adjusted to net 2030 based on current situation in 2025. Besides that, the data it mentioned is valuable for future reference. I'm wondering how the lab would proceed the final landing phase after dropping the propulsion module, that's a really interesting part.