Chinese Space Station Telescope
China's Space Program Thread II
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
not officially confirmed but expected launch is in Q4, 2026.
Oh dear. I even forgot about this. It’s been a long time since I last heard about this. I think it’s probably has the record of the most delayed Chinese space project if I’m not mistaken. This thing was supposed to be launched years ago and we are still not even sure when they will really launch it. So I will remain cautious about any dateline about this .
I think that's a little too fast.
Year 2030 sounds more reasonable.
The next Long march 10 launches is probably going to look something like this:
2026 - Earth orbit no crew
2027 - Lunar flyby no crew
2028 - Earth orbit with crew
2029 - Lunar flyby with crew
2030 - The big show.....lunar landing
The main reason I think it will happen in 2029 is the absolute importance of the date of 1 October 2029 as the PRC's 80th birthday.
There likely won't be Earth orbit with crew, it'll be uncrewed lunar flyby and directly to crewed lunar flyby before landing. Similar to the American program.
ChangGuang shipping Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D55 to be launched. Unclear the specs for it, but we've had 64 Gaofen-3 sats launched thus far.
5m diameter composite propulsion cabin has been delivered by CALT. it is over 60% composite material and can withstand 1000 t payload.
There is a recent ppt slide from May 2025 about the 4th and 5th CZ-10 putting men on the moon.
CZ-10 Y1, (likely) uncrewed Mengzhou to LLO. (stated) 2027
CZ-10 Y2&Y3, (must be) full dress rehearsal, uncrewed landing. (likely) 2028
CZ-10 Y4&Y5, (stated) crewed landing on the moon. (likely) 2029
Y1 will go to the moon and descend to LLO, then boost back to earth. This is not a flyby like Artemis I which is slinged back without enterring LLO.
Y2 and 3 are uncrewed.
I don't know if Y1 would carry crew or not, but I highly doubt that because it would the 1st true lunar return trip of the craft. I won't take that risk. And there isn't real reason to put human in the craft to test the life support system. Artemis II with crew is primarily a political show rather than engineering necessity because it is very likely the only moon related thing that US can do before China.
CZ-10 Y1, (likely) uncrewed Mengzhou to LLO. (stated) 2027
CZ-10 Y2&Y3, (must be) full dress rehearsal, uncrewed landing. (likely) 2028
CZ-10 Y4&Y5, (stated) crewed landing on the moon. (likely) 2029
All statements have been saying "crew landing before 2030". Most people understand it being before the begining of 2030.
True.
It is very different from what NASA is doing.
Y1 will go to the moon and descend to LLO, then boost back to earth. This is not a flyby like Artemis I which is slinged back without enterring LLO.
Y2 and 3 are uncrewed.
I don't know if Y1 would carry crew or not, but I highly doubt that because it would the 1st true lunar return trip of the craft. I won't take that risk. And there isn't real reason to put human in the craft to test the life support system. Artemis II with crew is primarily a political show rather than engineering necessity because it is very likely the only moon related thing that US can do before China.
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2026年, 第46卷, 第2期 刊出日期：2026-03-31
Many articles related to moon landing.
I have read these two related to the lander complex.
Research on system design and key technologies for crewed lunar landing and ascent
Lander complex consists lander and propulsion module. Propulsion module uses single 8t engine, lander uses 4 x 7500N engines.
Previously, there were at least three papers regarding 8t 1:10 engines. The requirement of 1:10 is to reach the moon surface from LLO, implying the desgin was a one-piece. As now the design is two pieces, this 1:10 is not needed anymore. This two pieces design reduces propellant requirement by 1t compared to one piece counterpart.
Worth to note that in an emergency, the lander can reach orbit with only 2 of the 4 engines.
The lander is designed to be reusable in the future.
The arrangement of the 4 engines would also be used by future mobile laboratory.
Propulsion technology of the lunar module for manned lunar exploration
The propellant tank of the lander (not the propulsion module) is designed for maximum operational period of one year.
Many articles related to moon landing.
I have read these two related to the lander complex.
Research on system design and key technologies for crewed lunar landing and ascent
Lander complex consists lander and propulsion module. Propulsion module uses single 8t engine, lander uses 4 x 7500N engines.
Previously, there were at least three papers regarding 8t 1:10 engines. The requirement of 1:10 is to reach the moon surface from LLO, implying the desgin was a one-piece. As now the design is two pieces, this 1:10 is not needed anymore. This two pieces design reduces propellant requirement by 1t compared to one piece counterpart.
Worth to note that in an emergency, the lander can reach orbit with only 2 of the 4 engines.
The lander is designed to be reusable in the future.
The arrangement of the 4 engines would also be used by future mobile laboratory.
Propulsion technology of the lunar module for manned lunar exploration
The propellant tank of the lander (not the propulsion module) is designed for maximum operational period of one year.