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)
1731298164384.jpeg
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.
 
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
6906DD78133CF2D86410AA56D56BF896.jpg
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That has attracted my attention. :cool:

EDIT:

Found this from October 29,
spacenews.com

China selects 2 proposals for crewed moon rover

HELSINKI — China’s human spaceflight agency has selected two teams to develop prototype rovers for the country’s planned crewed moon mission before the end of the decade. The country last year put …
spacenews.com spacenews.com

And this from November 6/7,
www.globaltimes.cn

China's crewed lunar rover, eyeing 2030 launch, enters initial prototype R&D stage - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn
 
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cattalonX said:
View attachment 749008
By the way, Qingzhou is directly docked to the space station, which is different from the previous concept
View attachment 749009
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Apparently CMSA wants to add a Node module to Tiangong, probably to accomodate Mengzhou, Qingzhou, Haolong spacecrafts, but also maybe in preparation of new modules?
006aWhMSgy1hvtrqiy13dj31pc0r67ks.jpg Also some nice new pictures of the 2nd Shenzhou 17 EVA

Gc4v5yqW8AAO3Zs.jpg 00686eaKgy1hvtpx3r0mrj31h80njdrr.jpg
 
Arjen said:
@cattalonX Subject of clip? Summary?
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It is an illustration of a component of the upcoming Chang'e 8 mission, the mission will carry a rover (which will apparently have an humanoid robot) that will be able to take lunar regolith samples, process it in the lander's integrated ISRU system that will 3D print bricks (such bricks are currently being tested on Tiangong), and the rover will then be able to lay those bricks.
There was a prototype of the Regolith processing and 3D printing system exhibited at Zhuhai recently, but I can't find the source about it anymore...
www.chinadaily.com.cn

Chang'e 8 to test use of 3D printing tech to build on moon

Chinese scientists plan to use the Chang'e 8 lunar mission to explore the feasibility of using 3D printing technology to construct buildings on the moon, according to the chief planner of the country's lunar programs.
www.chinadaily.com.cn www.chinadaily.com.cn

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In other news, there are currently two new chinese launchers on their pads ahead of their inaugural launches:

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1859900508968009869
View: https://x.com/AJ_FI/status/1859900508968009869


Landspace's Zhuque-2E is the upgraded version of their Zhuque-2 launcher, which was the first methane-fuelled launcher to reach orbit last year. It has an entirely new second stage with a new restartable engine that replaces the previous Engine+vernier arrangement, and future versions will also have uprated first stage engines although this particular model doesn't have them yet. Announced payload to Sun synchronous orbit is 3.5t; and 5.5t to LEO.

1732639947170.jpeg ZQ-2E Y1 and Further upgraded version of ZQ-2E 1732640020195.png
The launch is currently planned for the 27th at 02:00 UTC; if all goes well Landspace hopes to launch the second model next month.

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After a couple months of delays caused by the Yagi Typhoon, the CZ-12 is ready for its inaugural launch NET November 30 at 13:30 UTC. It is a new medium launcher (12t to LEO) made by CASC's SAST subsidiary, comparable in size and performances to the Ukrainian Zenit launcher or SpaceX's earlier Falcon 9 v1. It will notably test the YF-100K engines of the CZ-10 lunar launcher.

In the chinese spaceflight community, these expendable launchers are considered as "stopgaps" before reusable launchers, since both their manufacturers are working on Reusable launchers that will share components and infrastructure with them (Zhuque-3 and CZ-12A/B)
 
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