China's new launch vehicles Long March Series

[selvaarchi]

More details in spaceflight101 especially on the commonality between LM6 and LM5 and LM7.

http://www.spaceflight101.com/long-m...st-launch.html

The criticality in the maiden flight of the CZ-6 version also arises from the commonality between the new generation of Kerolox vehicles that is being implemented as a cost-saving measure and to accelerate the development of the new rockets. A number of components are common across the different variants of Long March 6, 7 and 5 including engines and rocket stage construction.

Long March 6 set out to demonstrate the YF-100 engine for the first time in a flight environment, also to be used on the boosters and first stage of the Long March 7 rocket and the boosters of the heavy Long March 5.

Picture
Photo: Weibo - 军报记者
Furthermore, the tanks and overall structure of the CZ-6 first stage is largely based on the larger Long March 5 booster for a simplification in the fabrication of the two rocket types that can share tooling and manufacturing techniques. The YF-115 second stage engine employed by the Long March 6 also finds use on the second stage of the CZ-7.

Given the large amount of commonality between the Long March 6 rocket and its bigger sisters, Saturday night's test flight will significantly affect the development of the CZ-7 and CZ-5 after actual in-flight data from the various components can be factored into analysis and flight/environment calculations. The Long March 6 launching on Saturday was outfitted with in-flight instrumentation for the collection of data beyond the normal launch vehicle telemetry to allow engineers to accurately assess the response of all components to the different flight environments.

[NEOWatcher]

Still no word on what the delay was. I'm sure it was something minor and something common in spaceflight, but I would at least see them acknowledge it. If it was NASA, there'd be plenty of people jumping down their throat as to why they aren't saying anything.

Anyway; Here's a video of the launch.

[selvaarchi]

Still no word on what the delay was. I'm sure it was something minor and something common in spaceflight, but I would at least see them acknowledge it. If it was NASA, there'd be plenty of people jumping down their throat as to why they aren't saying anything.

Anyway; Here's a video of the launch.

Thanks for the video.

Unfortunately there has been a clamp down on news about China's space activities. Even this launch although hinted about a year ago before the crack down was only released just before the launch. The other news that surprised me was why they chose to launch it from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and not show off their new space port - Wenchang Launch Center and also news on their LM11.

[NEOWatcher]

The other news that surprised me was why they chose to launch it from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and not show off their new space port - Wenchang Launch Center

There's no indication that it's upgrades are completed yet. Being that they are designing it for LM5, it's probably not a priority for altering it for other craft.

They and also news on their LM11.

There's very little out there about LM11. There is a lot of speculation that it's primarily for military use. So; we will probably not hear much about it except for a few launches.

[selvaarchi]

There's no indication that it's upgrades are completed yet. Being that they are designing it for LM5, it's probably not a priority for altering it for other craft. .

All indications were it should have been completed by mid year. I suspect Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center must be the backup site for Wenchang Launch Center. It could not have been a last minute decision as they would have to have built the fuel handling systems for the new rocket.

This latest report indicates all must we well with Wenchang Launch Center. That is the only launch site capable of handling LM5.

[NEOWatcher]

All indications were it should have been completed by mid year. I suspect Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center must be the backup site for Wenchang Launch Center. It could not have been a last minute decision as they would have to have built the fuel handling systems for the new rocket.

I suspect they may have planned for Taiyuan. I couldn't find articles old enough to say for sure, but as of March, it was the planned site.

This latest report indicates all must we well with Wenchang Launch Center. That is the only launch site capable of handling LM5.

I did find articles mentioning construction completion in June. But; that doesn't mean it's ready. They would still have needed time for testing the systems and procedures to "certify" it is ready. It may be possible that has been done, but we will probably never know until something launches.

[selvaarchi]

Someone was asking about LM9 in one of these threads. Have found an article from 2012 which cover the topic very well.

In the mean time, I am still waiting for the launch of the LM11 (supposed to be sometime today), as well as hopefully more information of the new rocket.

http://www.americaspace.com/?p=22881

In addition to CZ-5 hardware development, China is completing design studies on two 11 million lb. thrust Long March 9 maximum heavy lift rocket configurations. If approved for final development, one of the designs would emerge for flight in 2020-2025 with the capability to launch Chinese astronauts to the surface of the Moon.

The concepts mean that China is designing “a Super Saturn V rocket,” says Charles P. Vick, a highly experienced analyst with GlobalSecurity.Org.

[selvaarchi]

It has been launched the Long March 11 at 01:41 UTC on Friday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Congratulations China That is the 3ed new vehicle that China has introduced this year.

No further details were released about the LM11.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/...anwang-1-trio/

Following the successful debut launch of the Long March-6 rocket just days previous, China has now debuted the new Long March-11 solid launch vehicle, orbiting three “Tianwang-1″ satellites with Portuguese technology on board. The launch, which included at least one other small satellite – Pujian-1 – took place at 01:41 UTC on Friday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

[selvaarchi]

Some more information on the LM11 is in the spaceflight101 report of the launch.

http://www.spaceflight101.com/long-m...st-launch.html

A technical document published while Long March 11 was still in development called for the vehicle to stand around 18.7 meters tall using a stack of three solid-fueled stages with an Auxiliary Liquid-Fueled Upper Module for precise insertion capability. Measuring 2.0 meters in diameter, the first stage is the largest solid rocket motor operated by China. The first stage is around nine meters long while the second stage measures three meters in length, sharing the first stage's diameter. The smaller third stage is around 1.4 meters in diameter and one meter long with the payload stack sitting atop, protected by a 1.6-meter diameter payload fairing.

The fourth stage is reportedly powered by a YF-50 engine using liquid propellants and providing precise insertion capabilities into a variety of orbits - an overall design sharing similarities with Europe's Vega rocket that also employs a powerful stack of three solid stages topped by a low-thrust upper module to finish the orbital insertion.

Photos of the CZ-11 rocket have shown that it uses an above-ground launch container in which it is stored and moved to the pad - not unlike the Russian-operated Rockot and Topol rockets.

The exact performance of the Long March 11 is unknown, some reports claim that it can deliver up to 1,000 Kilograms to a Sun-Synchronous orbit.

[selvaarchi]

This is not about the Long March rockets but on the "father of Chinese rocketry", Qian Xuesen. How many realize that he is not only instrumental to the development of China's rockets but also a founding member of the rocket research group in California Institute of Technology (Caltech), as well as involved in the formation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20..._134681947.htm

Marking the 60th anniversary of Qian's returning to his homeland from the U.S. in 1955, the exhibition titled "Qian Xuesen: a man of science and an inspiration to scholars," features numerous archives, documents and images of the scientist throughout his life and career.

"It is rare that one individual that can make such great achievements in two countries in one's life time," Dr. Thomas F. Rosenbaum, president of Caltech, one of the sponsors, said when opening the exhibition.

"If you look at Professor Qian, at what he used to do both in the U.S. and in China, (you) reflect the way that language of science can improve the future for humanity, not a particular country," he said.

Before returning to China, Qian spent two decades studying and working in the United States, and made seminal contributions in applied mechanics, aeronautical engineering and many other fields.

Qian was a founding member of the rocket research group in Caltech, not only involved in the formation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), but also making contributions to the victory of allied countries in the world anti-fascist war.

"The influence of Qian Xuesen was profound, who led the formation of JPL, and of course China's space program and missile program depended crucially on the contributions of the same man," Rosenbaum said.

[publiusr]

He was done really dirty--all the nasty red-baiting. BTW, in the Martian movie--they didn't show the big LMs. They showed a small solid, then an Atlas IIAS IIRC.

[selvaarchi]

China is in the final stages of testing its preparedness in launching the Long March 5 towards the end of next year. They are checking out the capabilities of their new launch site, Wenchang center, to ensure it can handle the largest rocket China has ever flown.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/49841093.cms

China is conducting tests on its largest and most powerful rocket, the Long March 5, in Hainan province for its space operations with plans to make the first launch before the end of next year, a senior space official said.

"Engineers are testing whether the rocket's various systems can work well with the Wenchang center, and after the tests are done successfully, the Long March 5 will perform its first flight by the end of next year," said Liu Tongjie, deputy head of lunar exploratio ..

[selvaarchi]

We now have a month when LM 5 will be launched. September this year

http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/mi...launches-2016/

This year should also see maiden flights of the next-generation Long March 5 and Long March 7 rockets. The largest Long March 5 rocket (CZ-504) is a 203.4-foot (62-meter) tall heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to be able to deliver up to 25 metric tons of payload to low-Earth orbit (LEO) and up to 14 metric tons to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Weighing 810 metric tons, it is described as being the heaviest and most technologically challenging member of the Long March rocket family. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology is carrying out final tests of this booster to prepare it for its first flight scheduled for September.

The 174.2 feet (53 meters) tall Long March 7 is a medium-heavy launch vehicle with a mass of 594 metric tons. It will be capable of launching nearly 13.5 metric tons to LEO and about 5.5 metric tons into a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). Although, this booster is designed to deliver satellites into space, its structure is based on the Long March 2F rocket employed for crewed missions. The date of the first Long March 7 flight hasn’t been disclosed yet.

[publiusr]

Look at this huge one piece casting
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/...loser_999.html

"Li Tongyu, head of aerospace products at the academy, said its diameter and height will be much greater than those of the Long March 5, which is undergoing final tests and will make its first flight soon. The Long March 9's thrust will also be much stronger, Li said."

"'Our current launch vehicles, including the Long March 5, will be able to undertake the country's space activities planned for the next 10 years, but they will not have the capacity to carry out the nation's long-term space programs,' according to Li."

That and if some wise-acre over there up and backbites LM (CZ)-9, they get a rifle butt to the back of the head courtesy of the People's Liberation Army

[selvaarchi]

China confirms both the LM 7 and LM 5 will fly this year.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/964003.shtml

The CASC said it will publish pertinent specifications of the Long March carrier rockets online soon so that international clients interested in China's launch services can adjust their satellites to be compatible.

"Many international satellite companies will be able to adopt these connector standards and entrust the launch of their satellites to us," said Li Tongyu, head of the academy's aerospace department.

[selvaarchi]

China completes the final test on the Long March 5 before it's test flight in September this year..

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...t_23402311.htm

China recently concluded the final tests on its largest and most powerful rocket, the Long March 5, at the Wen-chang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan province, and will conduct the rocket's first flight in September, according to a senior project manager.

The tests started in late September last year totaled more than 130 days. They proved that the Long March 5, China's newest and most technologically advanced rocket, works well with the ground facilities at the Wenchang center, said Li Dong, a senior designer at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and head of the Long March 5 project.

The Chang'e 5 lunar probe, which will land on the moon and take samples before returning to Earth, also took part in the tests.

Li said the tests were the riskiest and most sophisticated that China has ever conducted on its rockets and involved about 300 engineers. The tests' outcome will be used to improve the first mass-production rocket, which will be launched in September, he added.

[selvaarchi]

A video on Long March 5 testing and some pictures of Long March 7 in this article.

[selvaarchi]

China plans to launch 110 Long March rockets over the next 5 years.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/971568.shtml

A Chinese rocket scientist said Wednesday that 110 China-made Long March rockets will take to the skies over the next five years, as more models are developed.

Liang Xiaohong, member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and a former head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said the past decade witnessed a rapid increase in the number of Long March rockets launched.

From 2011 to 2015, 86 Long March rockets were launched, and from 2006 to 2010 the number was 48, Liang said before the country's political advisory body convenes its annual session.

[selvaarchi]

More information on the LM9, LM7 and LM5. It also contains a video of the LM5.

http://gbtimes.com/china/china-worki...stronauts-moon

Liang Xiaohong, former vice president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), told state news agency Xinhua the super heavy lift rocket, known as Long March 9, will allow China to attempt an ambitious Mars sample return as part of its exploration plans for the Red Planet, and also to put people on the Moon.

A crewed lunar mission is an objective that China has not stated publicly, but is believed to be working towards and slowly mastering the techniques and technologies required.

Mr Liang says the Long March 9 will be nearly 10 metres in diameter, over 100 metres tall, and have a payload capacity of around 130 tonnes, rivalling the US’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

The 3,000 tonne Long March 9 is still at the very early stages of development, and expected to make its maiden flight around 2030.

Liang, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was speaking ahead of the opening of China’s annual parliamentary sessions in Beijing.

The sessions will see the adoption of the country's new Five Year Plan, which will include objectives for its state-run aeropsace industry.

[selvaarchi]

Thanks to Publiusr for the link on updates to the LM9 he posted in the SLS thread. Posting it here to so we will have all the LM news in one place.

http://m.chinadaily.com.cn/en/2016-0...t_23804670.htm

Chinese rocket engine designers have started to develop next-generation engines that will propel the nation's future super-heavy rocket, which is tentatively called Long March 9, according to a senior rocket scientist.

"Engineers at my academy are researching and developing a 500-ton-thrust liquid oxygen/kerosene engine and a 200-ton-thrust liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engine that will be used on the future heavy-lift rocket," Tan Yonghua, president of the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology and a national lawmaker, told China Daily on the sidelines of the annual session of the top legislature.



Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[selvaarchi]

The Long March 7 rocket to be launched next month has departed for its launch base in Hainan on Sunday from north China's port of Tianjin.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/981912.shtml

It has taken researchers eight years to develop the medium-sized rocket, which can carry up to 13.5 tonnes to low Earth orbit, said Li Hong, director of the Carrier Rocket Technology Research Institute with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

"The Long March-7 launch scheduled for late June will be of great significance as it will usher in China's space lab mission," said Yang Baohua, deputy manager of the company.

[selvaarchi]

Andrew Jones on the move of the Long March 7 from the factory to China's port of Tianjin. This includes a 2 minute video of the move. There is also a 2 minute video of the Long March 5 undergoing tests.

http://gbtimes.com/china/chinas-long...ay-launch-site

Professor Huang Jun at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics told gbtimes last year that this new generation of Chinese launch vehicle series uses universal modularised design which can be easily combined into new rocket variants for various missions.

“The reliability and launch preparation time are improved and the launching cost will be lowered,” Huang said.

While China’s current Long March series rockets are fuelled by highly toxic hydrazine propellant, the new Long March 5, 6 and 7 launch vehicles mainly use a mix of kerosene and liquid oxygen to reach orbit.

The new propellant, also used by the SpaceX Falcon 9, provides greater specific impulse, with the by-products being water and carbon dioxide.

[selvaarchi]

Here is pictorial confirmation the LM7 parts have reached Hainan Island to be assembled in Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/18...rt-next-month/

This could be a banner year for China’s space program, with the debut of the Wenchang space center and the Long March 7 planned in June, followed by the maiden flight of the heavy-lift Long March 5 launcher from Wenchang before the end of 2016.

The Long March 5 rocket will loft up to 25 metric tons, or 55,000 pounds, to low Earth orbit, enough to place heavy modules in orbit for China’s planned space station. The heavy-lifter can put up to 14 metric tons, or nearly 31,000 pounds, into geostationary transfer orbit, the destination favored by most communications satellites.

That is roughly equivalent to the capacity of United Launch Alliance’s Delta 4-Heavy rocket, and two-and-a-half times China’s current lift capability.

[selvaarchi]

Andrew Jones on the move of the Long March 7 from Hainan port to the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center. This includes a 2 minute video of the move from Hainan port. Also another one and a half minute video of Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.

http://gbtimes.com/china/first-long-...-new-spaceport

China's first next-generation Long March 7 rocket is now being assembled at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre after being delivered by ship ahead of launch next month.

Drone footage above shows the rocket components arriving at Qinglan harbour on the southern Hainan island province after the journey from from the northern port of city Tianjin.

The rocket is then unloaded from the specially designed Yuang Wang 21 transport ship and taken to the launch centre by road.

[selvaarchi]

China has not confirmed it but China watches say the Long March 7 is to have it's maiden launch on the 27th of this month. Here is more information on the Long March 7.

http://gbtimes.com/china/7-facts-abo...7-space-rocket

At the end of June China will launch its first Long March 7 rocket, which is part of a new generation of launch vehicles designed to take China’s space program ambitions to the next level.

The new rockets, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) under the China Aerospace Science And Technology Corporation (CASC), aim to provide increased reliability and adaptability, lower costs and preparation time, as well as allowing much heavier payloads to be put in orbit.

Ahead of launch, here are seven facts about the Changzheng-7

[selvaarchi]

We are 10 days away from the launch of the Long March 7 Found this video which is four minutes long about their new rockets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AHonfc9pWc

April 24 is China's first National Space Day. In the lead-up to the day celebrating space travel, CCTV went to take a look at one of the country's major space projects - its new generation of launch vehicles, the Long March 5. It is currently under development and will support China’s space exploration program for the next twenty to thirty years. Meanwhile, China has also set itself the goal of launching its first Mars probe by 2020.

[publiusr]

I would have liked to have seen them stick with hypergolics--at least for some things. It would have been nice to see the RD-270 live.

[selvaarchi]

There is much interest shown in the launch of China's maiden flight of the Long March 7 in a week's time. It is also the maiden flight for their brand new launch site.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20..._135448512.htm

China's fourth space launch center at Wenchang in Hainan Province, plans eight launch viewing areas for space fans to observe its maiden launch mission.

Components of China's new generation of carrier rocket Long March-7 arrived in Wenchang in May for the planned launch before the end of June.

The Long March-7, a medium-sized rocket using liquid propellant, can carry up to 13.5 tonnes to low Earth orbit. It will transport cargo for China's planned space station and is expected to become the main carrier for space launches.

The Wenchang tourism department said that the city can only provide accommodation for 80,000 tourists and suggested tourists avoid the maiden launch, as there will be more space launches afterwards. By Sunday, all hotels were booked out.

[selvaarchi]

In only 3 days time China will launch the maiden flight of the Long March 7 rocket. The launch window extends till Wednesday if they hit any unexpected problems like the weather.

This launch will be open to the public and they expect at least 25 thousand to see the big event. The rocket is already on the launch pad and the report has pictures.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/polic...-7-ready-blast

Saturday will be the Long March 7’s maiden launch as well as the first time a rocket is taking off at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre in Hainan

China’s latest Long March rocket arrived on the launch pad on Wednesday morning three days before it is due for blast-off on the maiden launch of both the rocket and the launch site.

At 8am on Wednesday the 600-tonnes Long March 7 rocket began a three-hour rail journey of several kilometres from the assembly complex to the launch site at Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre, China Central Television reported.

[selvaarchi]

Andrew Jones on China's Long March 7 roll out for weekend debut launch.

http://gbtimes.com/china/chinas-long...d-debut-launch

China’s next-generation Long March 7 rocket was rolled out for launch on Wednesday morning in preparation for its first-ever launch this weekend, ready to take the country's space program into a new era.

The 53-metre-tall, 600-tonne rocket has been vertically assembled, tested and transported to its launch pad at the brand new coastal Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre on the southern island province of Hainan.

The window for launch has been officially announced as June 25-29, with an unconfirmed time of 19:30 Beijing time (11:30 UTC) Saturday circulating online.