Chinese Space Program

Haolong
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It is stated as 10m long and 8m wide. The mass is "half of Tianzhou's" (so ~7t), it is pressurised through the whole flight, the wings can fold for launch.

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The Chang'e 6 return capsule (actual one)
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It is stated as 325kg heavy, 1.26m diameter and 1.24m tall.
 
NMaude said:
Has China had its' own version of the X-40 demonstrator (X-37 precursor)?
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No single test program is conclusively linked to the Reusable Space Shuttle, but yes, there were at least two:

-The Shenlong test program (863-706) through the 2000s and early 2010s, probably Chengdu-Aircraft led (although CASC and other universities were likely involved), it involved air-drop tests (H-6 dropped) and probably suborbital tests (similar to the Indian RLV-TD test; potentially even at high hypersonic speeds, launched ontop the suborbital variant of the CZ-2C)


-The Aotian-1 program, most likely CASC-CALT-led; which involved air-drop tests (cargo plane or helicopter) around 2013-2014
 
Seems like Galactic Energy is still enamored by Electromagnetic Catapult to boost capability of their solid fuel rocket. This was propose for Ceres-1 now they propose it again for Ceres-2
https://twitter.com/x/status/1856615668579479628
Ceres-2 may have a version for electromagnetic lanuch.Electromagnetic lanuch could boost the LEO capacity of Ceres-2 from 1.6t to 3.5t. The CEO of Galactic Energy did talk about the EM catapult in his pervious interviews, but I really doubt about it.
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I still don't know what is require to accelerate 100 tons solid fuel rocket to high enough velocity that it pay load is increase by almost 2 tons to LEO, but I can't imagine it would be easy.
 
TheKutKu said:
No single test program is conclusively linked to the Reusable Space Shuttle, but yes, there were at least two:

-The Shenlong test program (863-706) through the 2000s and early 2010s, probably Chengdu-Aircraft led (although CASC and other universities were likely involved), it involved air-drop tests (H-6 dropped) and probably suborbital tests (similar to the Indian RLV-TD test; potentially even at high hypersonic speeds, launched ontop the suborbital variant of the CZ-2C)


-The Aotian-1 program, most likely CASC-CALT-led; which involved air-drop tests (cargo plane or helicopter) around 2013-2014
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What about their current classified space plane which has been directly compared to the X-37B in the US?
 
Space Circling patent showing engine concept where exhaust gas from gas generator is fed into ramjet.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1858345572635402524
By the way, the company also filed some interesting patents. They have a design that pipe the high speed exhaust gas from gas-generator to a ramjet engine. They claim it could boost the ISP of an open-cycle engine to 366.8s (40%ish boost compare to a normal OC engine).
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Space Circling is probably one of the most creative company in Chinese space sector. They only seems to care about novel engine design.
 
thanix01 said:
Space Circling patent showing engine concept where exhaust gas from gas generator is fed into ramjet
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That gives new meaning to the term "Turbo-ramjet", definitely has applications for enhancing the performance of a first-stage.
 
NMaude said:
That gives new meaning to the term "Turbo-ramjet", definitely has applications for enhancing the performance of a first-stage.
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I actually kinda wonder if this might be more useful as missile engine, especially for one that fly longer within the atmosphere.

Though I don't know if the benefit will worth it costing more than solid fuel engine.
 
thanix01 said:
I actually kinda wonder if this might be more useful as missile engine, especially for one that fly longer within the atmosphere.

Though I don't know if the benefit will worth it costing more than solid fuel engine.
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Solid propellant ramjet/air augmented ducted solid rocket are a better idea for missiles, and they’re proven
 
Seems that the PRC carries on the old USSR tradition of "we need something similar to that new American thing, you never know. Even if it makes little sense." This thread so far has
-a BFR-Starship lookalike
-a X-37 lookalike
-a X-33 lookalike
 
TheKutKu said:
Solid propellant ramjet/air augmented ducted solid rocket are a better idea for missiles, and they’re proven
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I thought the same, just trying to guess what would be the best use case for this.

Perhaps the ISP increase within part of the flight within atmosphere, actually offset weight increase and make it still viable for rocket engine.

…

@Archibald perhaps. But I do feel that PRC is in better position to actually pull it off.
 
JZYJ FFSC methalox engine to be deliver in 2026
https://twitter.com/x/status/1858719132566647119
JZYJ is developing the FFSC Methane/LOX engine called FY/烽云-100 & 200. Plan to deliver at 2026. via JZYJ's board at Zhuhai airshow.
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This could potentially beat CASC YF-215 to release first. I wonder if JZYJ could snagged Long March 9 engine contract like they did with SAST XLV.
 
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cattalonX said:
Lanyue
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That has attracted my attention. :cool:
 

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