China's Space Program Thread II

[Michael90]

In general agreement. New players throughout the entire Chinese space supply chain are popping up like mushrooms after a rainstorm (central government setting the direction), and so far, in the launch-provider segment, Landspace is one of the most impressive organizations next to the National Teams.

The launch business is technically demanding in the extreme. As an illustration, the late-2024 failure of the Lijian-1 (Y6) launch was traced by CAS Space (another impressive launch provider) to damage sustained (during installation) by an electrical cable in the third-stage thrust vector control system; apparently, the damage was not sufficient to cause a scrub but the cable later failed due to launch vibrations which in turn led to the 3rd stage losing attitude control and eventual vehicle loss. So any minor problem in a launch vehicle, in the organization setup, or unexpected changes in the conditions and scheduling at the launch site can cause lengthy launch delays. Nevertheless, Landspace's ZQ-3 is neck and neck with CALT's CZ-10A/B to achieve China's first sucessful recovery of a 1st stage booster during an orbital launch attempt. it's best to just be patient and give these people time to minimize potential problems.

Very well said. Reason I said people should be more patient and understanding about Chinese private companies who are trying to suceed in reusable rocket launch business. It’s not an easy thing at all. People now underestimate the complexity simply because spacex is doing them so effortlessly/casually(successfully landing hundreds of reusable rocket boosters) today that it looks so easy. However, they should réalisé that spacex is an abnormal exception so far, not the norm. In fact nobody expected them to be so successful to be honest (not even the US government and space authorities to be honest ). I remember just over 12 years ago how European and a Russian space agency leaders were making fun of spacex when they began their project and objectives . Saying it was folly and waste of time/money and won’t be viable . lol.
Musk has done a great job building such a fabulous team and having a great vision/discipline and focus on what he wanted to achieve. The results have been spectacular and far above what even the optimistic fans expected to be honest .
It’s good they have inspired a new breed of companies and players globally . Win -win for mankind as there is still so much we need to learn from space .

 

[Tomboy]

Recovery ship was spotted sailing out of Hangzhou enroute to Sanya.

 

[GulfLander]

Jinlihua Electric will acquire a nearly 83 percent stake in Xiopm Space, a commercial satellite design, manufacture and operating company set up by the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, from 11 shareholders through cash payment and share issuance, the Zhejiang province-based buyer announced yesterday.

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China, Europe Jointly Launch Space Weather Satellite SMILE

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2057010012938015104

 

[bsdnf]

Shenzhou-23 will carry Hong Kong astronauts.

 

[2=GT]

Shenzhou XXIII's three-member crew includes nation's first female civilian astronaut from Hong Kong.

 

[Michael90]

Shenzhou XXIII's three-member crew includes nation's first female civilian astronaut from Hong Kong.View attachment 175418

Interesting . Looks like none of them have been to space before ? I thought China always choose a captain with previous experience in space . Not sure the guy in the middle has been part of a shenzhou mission before ?

 

[2=GT]

Interesting . Looks like none of them have been to space before ? I thought China always choose a captain with previous experience in space . Not sure the guy in the middle has been part of a shenzhou mission before ?

The commander Zhu Yangzhu (middle) had flown on SZ16

 

[j17wang]

The commander Zhu Yangzhu (middle) had flown on SZ16

So Zhu Yangzhu is doing the 365 day stayover?

 

[TheRathalos]

So Zhu Yangzhu is doing the 365 day stayover?

The identity of the astronaut who will stay for a year has not been disclosed, it was said that, One of the three will stay for another six months 'depending on condition'. It will most likely be the newbie Zhang Zhiyuan, since Zhu Yangzhu is commander and should command the return trip, however it seems they could adapt if there are any problem.

The new astronauts:

Zhang Zhiyuan, Han nationality, From Gansu, Born June 1986, Joined PLA in 2006, Joined CPC in 2011, Group 3 astronaut, colonel in the air force, 1st class pilot

Li Jaying, Han Nationality, born in Hong Kong in November 1982, with a doctoral degree from Shunde, Guangdong, joined the Hong Kong Police Force as a superintendent in September 2006.

 

[NoetherSpudCharge]

So Zhu Yangzhu is doing the 365 day stayover?

My bet is on the male newbie, Zhang Zhiyuan (张志远). According to English Wikipedia, there is apparently a Chinese athlete (rowing/crew) with the same name (in both English and Chinese) who won Gold at the 2019 Ottensheim World Championships in the Lightweight Quad Sculling event (also Silver at the 2018 Asian Games); if this is the same person, then it'd be natural to have him perform this one-year endurance event since we know that, at least to those of us who had suffered in this sport in any capacity during our youth, rowing is one of the premier endurance sporting events on par with ultra-marathons and cycling.