China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

[TR_123456]

CASC, one of the Fortune Global 500 firms, is a large state-owned enterprise group with its own independent intellectual properties and famous brands, outstanding innovative capabilities, and strong core competitiveness. Originating from the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense established in 1956 and experiencing the historic evolution of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry, the Ministry of Astronautics, the Ministry of Aerospace Industry, and China Aerospace Corporation, CASC was formally founded on July 1, 1999.

As the leading force of China’s space industry and one of China’s first innovative enterprises, CASC has 8 large R&D and production complexes, 11 specialized companies, 13 listed companies and a number of directly affiliated units. CASC is mainly engaged in the research, design, manufacture, test and launch of space products such as launch vehicle, satellite, manned spaceship, cargo spaceship, deep space explorer and space station as well as strategic and tactical missile systems. Its R&D and industrial facilities are mainly located in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Under the strategy of military-civil integration, CASC pays great attention to space technology applications such as satellite applications, information technology, new energy and materials, special space technology applications, and space biology. CASC also greatly develops space services such as satellite and its ground operation, international space commercial services, space financial investment, software and information services. Now CASC is the only broadcast and communications satellite operator in China, and the product provider with the largest scale and strongest technical strength in China’s image information record industry. Over the past decades, CASC has made outstanding contributions to the national economic and social development, national defense modernization and scientific and technical progress.

At present, CASC is dedicating itself to building China into a space power, continuously carrying out the national major scientific and technical programs such as Manned Spaceflight, Lunar Exploration, Beidou Navigation and High-Resolution Earth Observation System; initiating a number of new major programs and projects such as heavy launch vehicle, Mars exploration, asteroid exploration, space vehicle in-orbit service and maintenance, and space-ground integrated information network; and actively conducting international exchanges and cooperation, thus making new contributions to peaceful use of outer space and benefiting mankind as a whole.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

 

[TR_123456]

Construction plan unveiled for int'l lunar research station

A senior Chinese space expert on Tuesday unveiled a plan for the construction of the International Lunar Research Station initiated by China and extended an invitation to organizations and scientists around the world to participate in the program.

The building of the International Lunar Research Station will be carried out in three phases, with a basic model of the station expected to be completed by around 2030, said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program.

Wu made the remarks during a speech at the International Deep Space Exploration Conference held in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province.

According to the scientist, the upcoming Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, and Chang'e-8 missions will play an important role in the first phase of construction of the research station to form the basic model of the research station.

Chang'e-6 will be launched around 2024 to collect samples from the far side of the moon while Chang'e-7 will be launched around 2026 to carry out a detailed investigation of the environment and resources of the lunar south pole, Wu said.

He added that Chang'e-8 will be launched around 2028 to conduct experiments on lunar resource utilization and build a basic model of the International Lunar Research Station.

In the second phase, the basic model of the research station is set to undergo improvements by 2040, enabling scientists to carry out research on the Sun-Earth-Moon space environment. Meanwhile, a satellite constellation named Queqiao (Magpie Bridge) will be developed to provide communications, navigation and remote-sensing services for manned lunar landings and deep space exploration such as Mars and Venus, Wu said.

In the third phase, the research station will be gradually upgraded from a scientific research-oriented experimental station to an application-oriented and multifunctional lunar base, he noted.

During Tuesday's event, Wu also highlighted the cooperation initiative for countries, organizations, and scientists worldwide to join the construction of the research station. In 2021, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) released a partnership guideline for the International Lunar Research Station.

According to the CNSA, the research station will operate autonomously for a long period of time, with short-term human participation.

The International Deep Space Exploration Conference is one of the major activities held to celebrate the Space Day of China, which falls on April 24. In 2016, China selected this date to celebrate space day in honor of the launch of its first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3793264/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China launches record-setting 41 satellites on single rocket

China launched a Long March-2D rocket to place 41 satellites in orbit on Thursday, setting a domestic record for the most satellites lifted in one go.

The rocket blasted off at 1:30 p.m. (Beijing Time) at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China and soon took the satellites, including the Jilin-1 Gaofen 06A, into preset orbit.

These satellites will be used for commercial remote sensing services and verification of related technologies, said the launch site.

This was the 476th flight mission of the Long March rocket series.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3831568/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China launches new space experiment satellite


-China on Tuesday launched a Long March-6 carrier rocket to place a new experiment satellite in space.

-The rocket carrying the Shiyan-25 experiment satellite lifted off at 11:18 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi. The satellite successfully entered the preset orbit.

-This satellite will mainly be used to carry out new Earth-observation technology experiments.

-This was the 477th flight mission of the Long March rocket series.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3833442/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

Tiangong Space Station's electric propulsion engine achieves first in-orbit gas exchange


China's manned spaceflight Tiangong Space Station recently achieved a new first, by successfully installing an electric propulsion system gas cylinder in-orbit through robotic arm. It is believed to be beneficial to maintain the long-term orbit safe and stable flight of the space station.


For the first time, the 801 research institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) 6th Academy has adopted a "gas exchange" method instead of "gas replenishment" to supplement the electric propulsion propellant xenon gas, according to a statement the Global Times received from the institute on Tuesday.


The use of the electric propulsion system on the Tiangong Space Station marks its debut in the field of manned spaceflight. With the addition of the gas bottle as an "external attachment," the service life of the space station's electric propulsion system will be significantly extended, playing a crucial role in the long-term safe and stable operation of the
space station.


The electric propulsion system, also known as the electric propulsion engine, firstly converts inert gases such as xenon into charged ions, then accelerates and ejects these ions to generate thrust, which will power tasks such as spacecraft attitude control, orbit correction, and maintenance.


The in-orbit installment was completed through a simplified floating docking method: achieving initial positioning of the robotic arm through a coarse positioning guiding device, followed by further correction through autonomous fine positioning. This approach can achieve reliability of docking even after multiple in-orbit disassembly and reassembly operations.


Considering uncontrollable factors in the space environment, astronauts are also able to manually replace the gas bottle in addition to the robotic arm's automatic in-orbit replacement.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3834645/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

A handover ceremony held in Egypt for models of the MisrSat-2 project


A handover ceremony was held at the Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Center in New Cairo city in the Eastern Area of Cairo in Egypt for two models of a remote-sensing satellite jointly developed by Chinese and Egyptian scientists on Sunday.


The MisrSat-2 is a benchmark project for space cooperation between China and Egypt under the Belt and Road Initiative. The mechanical and thermal models and the electrical model have undergone multiple tests and environmental experiments after assembly.


This is China's first international space cooperation project using overseas facilities for the entire satellite assembly, integration, and environmental testing and delivering satellite models from abroad.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3837391/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China launches new satellite to test satellite internet technologies


China on Sunday sent a new test satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The satellite was launched by a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 7:00 p.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit.


It will carry out test missions for satellite internet technologies.


The launch was the 478th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3841238/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China unveils preliminary plan on manned lunar landing


China plans to land its taikonauts on the moon before 2030 to carry out scientific exploration, according to a preliminary plan released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Wednesday.


The plan is to launch two carrier rockets to send a lunar lander and a manned spacecraft to a lunar orbit, respectively. The craft and lunar lander will rendezvous and dock with each other, and then taikonauts will enter the lander.As the lunar lander descends and arrives at the preset area on the lunar surface, taikonauts will carry out scientific tasks and collect samples.After completing the planned tasks, taikonauts will return to the lander, which will lift them back to the lunar orbit to dock with their spacecraft.In the final step, the spacecraft will fly taikonauts back to Earth with lunar samples.


Chinese researchers are working on the development of the Long March-10 carrier rocket, a new generation of manned spacecraft, lunar lander, lunar landing spacesuit, manned lunar rover, and other equipment, said Zhang Hailian, deputy chief designer with the CMSA at a space industry forum in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province.


The new carrier rocket will have three and a half stages with a carrying capacity of about 27 tonnes to the lunar transfer orbit, and the rocket body is five meters in diameter.The new generation of manned spacecraft has three parts -- an escape tower, a re-entry capsule, and a service capsule, Zhang said, adding that the new spaceship will employ module designs that can satisfy the needs of both near-Earth and deep-space explorations.The landing rover will consist of two parts -- a landing section and a propulsion section, and can send two taikonauts to the lunar surface at the same time.The lunar rover will weigh 200 kg and can accommodate two taikonauts.


In addition, the spacesuit being developed for the moon landing, with a single working time of no less than eight hours, will feature better mobilities to help taikonauts walk, climb, squat, drive, and operate machines.Zhang said China would also explore the construction of a lunar scientific research station and carry out systematic and long-term lunar exploration and related technical tests and verification.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3842520/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China develops new carrier rocket, spacecraft for moon landing


China is currently developing a new carrier rocket and manned spacecraft as part of its goal to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, the country's space experts said.


The new carrier rocket Long March-10 is mainly developed for the purpose of sending spacecraft and moon lander into the Earth-moon transfer orbit, said Rong Yi, a rocket expert with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).


The Long March-10 uses liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants. It has a total length of about 92 meters, a takeoff weight of about 2,187 tonnes, a takeoff thrust of about 2,678 tonnes, and a carrying capacity of no less than 27 tonnes for the Earth-moon transfer orbit.


A non-booster configuration of the new rocket is capable of conducting missions for transporting astronauts and cargo to the space station. Its total length is about 67 meters, the takeoff weight is about 740 tonnes, the takeoff thrust is about 892 tonnes, and the low-Earth orbit carrying capacity is no less than 14 tonnes.


The Long March-10 is a strategic support for China to land astronauts on the moon before 2030, and it is expected to prepare for its maiden flight in 2027, said Rong in a recent interview with Xinhua.


The new manned spacecraft adopts modular design, consisting of an escape tower, a return capsule and a service module. It can meet the needs of near-earth and deep space missions.


According to an expert with the China Academy of Space Technology under the CASC, the spacecraft has an orbit mass of about 26 tonnes and can carry three astronauts. It is mainly used to send astronauts to orbit around the moon and return to Earth.


Unlike three-module Shenzhou spacecraft, the new spacecraft has two parts. One is the return capsule, which is the command center of the whole spacecraft and the living quarters for the astronauts. The other is the service module, which is the energy and power center. The two-module structure makes the spacecraft flexible with more reusable parts.


On the basis of the new spacecraft, China is also developing near-earth spacecraft with a capacity of four to seven crew members, which is prepared for the country's space tourism.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3845014/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China's main rocket engine for crewed lunar missions completes new trial


China on Saturday completed a new trial run for the main rocket engine of its future crewed lunar missions, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).


The 130-tonne class liquid oxygen kerosene rocket engine is an upgraded version of the current high-thrust engine being used in a new generation of carrier rockets such as the Long March-5.


The rocket engine will be used for Long March-10 carrier rockets in the country's crewed lunar missions.


Zhou Xianqi, a researcher with CASC, said the trial met relevant test requirements and several high-altitude simulation tests will be conducted in the second half of this year to finalize the relevant performance and parameters.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3847622/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China sends four satellites into space


China on Sunday launched a Long March-2D carrier rocket, sending 4 satellites into preset orbit.

The rocket lifted off at 10:50 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi.


Three of the satellites will be used to obtain remote sensing observation data and provide commercial remote sensing services, while the other satellite will be used for satellite communications technology verification.


This was the 479th flight mission of the Long March rocket series.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3847593/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China launches new remote sensing satellite group


China launched a Long March-2D carrier rocket on Thursday to place a remote sensing satellite group composed of three satellites in space.

The three satellites of the Yaogan-36 family were launched at 04:02 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan and entered the preset orbit.


This mission is the 480th flight of the Long March carrier rockets.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3849001/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China launches Fengyun-3 satellite


China on Thursday launched a satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The Fengyun-3 06 satellite was launched at 11:47 a.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-4C carrier rocket and successfully entered the planned orbit.


The launch marked the 481st flight mission of the Long March series carrier rockets. It was also the 100th launch of the Long March 4 series of rockets.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3852065/content.html

 

[Bürküt]

China launches new disaster reduction satellite


China launched a new satellite for disaster reduction from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province on Wednesday.

The satellite was launched by a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 6:53 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit.

The launch was the 482nd mission by the Long March rocket series.

http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/n17212/c3854054/content.html