Chinese space program
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The space program of the People's Republic of China was initiated at the behest of the Central Military Commission for fulfilling national needs. The potential military utility of space was the central reason for China embarking on its national space program since 1956. The program was aimed at developing China's aviation, guided missiles, rockets and missile defense needs. Thus, the first products of its space programme were not Satellite Launch Vehicles (chsatellites), rather they were Ballistic Missiles like the Dongfeng-1 (DF-1), -2, -3, -4 and -5. Of these, the DF-4 and DF-5 became SLVs like the Changzheng-1 (CZ-1) and CZ-2 respectively.[1] Thus, PRC's first satellite, Dongfanghong I (The East Is Red I), was launched only one and a half decades later in 1970, making China the fifth space-faring nation. The manned space program began in 1968, and China became the third country to put a human in space in 2003.
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[edit] History and recent developments
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The PRC's space program dates to 1956, when Tsien Hsue-Shen was deported from the United States after being accused of being a communist during the red scare. He became first director of a ballistic missile program in China.
The March 1, 1956, Twelve-Year-Plan for Chinese aerospace, also known as Project 581, was the first Chinese satellite project, with the objective of placing a satellite in orbit by 1959.[2]
The Fifth Academy of the Defence Ministry (国防部第五研究院) was founded on October 8, 1956 with Qian Xueshen as director, starting the development of the first ballistic missile program. [3]
The construction of China's first satellite launch center in Jiuquan started on April 1958.
China first ever T-7M sounding rocket was successfully launched from Nanhui launch site on February 19, 1960. [4]
During the cordial Sino-Soviet relations of the 1950s, the USSR engaged in a cooperative technology transfer program with the PRC under which they trained Chinese students and provided the fledgling program with a sample rocket, but this support was abruptly withdrawn after the 1960 Sino-Soviet split.
Decision taken by Chairman Mao Zedong in December 1963 to give China a missile defence system capacity. During a conference held in February 2, 1964, directive 640 （640指示）is adopted latter known as Project 640. [5]
The first successful flight of a biological experimental T-7A(S1) sounding rocket transporting eight white mice was launched and recovered on July 19, 1964 from Base 603（安徽广德誓节渡中国科学院六○三基地）.
China's Space Medical Institute (航天医学工程研究所) was founded on April 1, 1968, and the selection of astronauts started. Space medical research were also conducted.
The PRC continued the program independently and launched their first rocket, based on the Russian R-2, in late 1960. Development continued through the 1960s and 1970s, with the first launch of the indigenous Dongfeng missile in 1964. The same technology, adapted into the Long March rocket, was used to launch the PRC's first satellite Dong Fang Hong I (The East Is Red I), on April 24, 1970, allowing the PRC to join the USSR, United States, France, and Japan as the fifth spacefaring nation. The PRC went on to launch 55 satellites in the Dong Fang Hong series over the following three decades.
The first recoverable satellite (返回式卫星) was launched on November 26, 1975 and recovered three days later, thus making China the only third country in the world to master this technology.
The first Yuanwang-class space tracking ship was commissioned in 1979, making China the only fourth country to possess such a vessel.
Further development of the Long March rocket series allowed the PRC to initiate a commercial launch program in 1985, which has since launched over 30 foreign satellites, primarily for European and Asian interests. The United States government has long been resistant to the use of PRC launch services by American industry due to concerns over technology transfer, and in 2000 announced an official embargo. The PRC has continued to improve their rocket designs.
The PRC is a member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and a signatory to all United Nations treaties and conventions on space.
[edit] Organization
Initially the space program of the PRC was organized under the People's Liberation Army, particularly the Second Artillery Corps. In the 1990s, however, the PRC reorganized the space program as part of a general reorganization of the defense industry to make it resemble Western defense procurement.
The China National Space Administration, an agency within the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense currently headed by Sun Laiyan, is now responsible for launches. The Long March rocket which is produced by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, and satellites are produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The latter organizations are state-owned enterprises; however, it is the intent of the PRC government that they not actively be state managed and that they behave much as private companies would in the West.
[edit] Universities & institutes
The space program also has close links with:
- School of Aerospace, Tsinghua University
- School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhejiang University
- Institute of Aerospace Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiaotong University
- College of Aeronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology
- School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, Beihang University
[edit] Space Cities
- Dongfeng space city （东风航天城），also known as Base 20（二十基地）or Dongfeng base（东风基地）[6]
- Beijing space city （北京航天城）
- Wenchang space city （文昌航天城）
- Shanghai space city （上海航天城）
- Yantai space city （烟台航天城）[7] [8]
[edit] Suborbital Launch Sites
- Base 603 （安徽广德誓节渡中国科学院六○三基地）Also known as Guangde Launch Site（广德发射场）. [10] The first successful flight of a biological experimental T-7A(S1) sounding rocket transporting eight white mice was launched and recovered on July 19, 1964. [11]
[edit] Satellite Launch Centers
The PRC operates 4 Satellite Launch Centers:
- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC)
- Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC)
- Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC)
- Wenchang Satellite Launch Center (WSLC)
[edit] Monitoring and Control Centers
- Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center (BACCC)
- Xian Satellite Monitor and Control Center (XSCC) also known as Base 26（二十六基地）
- Fleet of six Yuanwang-class space tracking ships. [12]
- Data relay satellite (数据中继卫星) Tianlian I (天链一号), specially developed to increase the communication time between the Shenzhou 7 spaceship and the ground, it will also improve the amount of data that can be transferred. The current orbit coverage of 12 percent will thus be increased to a total of about 60 percent. [13][14]
- Deep Space Tracking Network composed with radio antennas in Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Urumuqi and forming a 3000 km VLBI.
[edit] Domestic Tracking Stations
- New integrated land-based space monitoring and control network stations, forming a large triange with Kashi in the north-west of China, Jiamusi in the north-east and Sanya in the south. [15]
- Weinan Station
- Changchun Station
- Qingdao Station
- Zhanyi Station
- Nanhai Station
- Tianshan Station
- Xiamen Station
- Lushan Station
- Jiamusi Station
- Dongfeng Station
- Hetian Station
[edit] Overseas Tracking Stations
- Karachi Station
- Tarawa Station
- Malindi Station
- Swakopmund Station
Plus shared space tracking facilities with France, Brazil, Sweden and Australia.
[edit] Manned Spacecraft Landing Site
[edit] Manned spaceflight programs
[edit] Project 714
PRC's manned spaceflight programs started as top secret as early as 1968, when it was founded by Tsien Hsue-Shen of the Space Flight Medical Research Centre. Project 714 aimed to put two people into space by 1973 with the Shuguang spacecraft. Nineteen PLAAF pilots were selected for this goal on March 1971. The Shuguang-1 spacecraft to be launched with the CZ-2A rocket was designed to carry a crew of two. The program was officially cancelled on May 13, 1972 for economic reasons, though the internal politics of the Cultural Revolution likely motivated the closure.
The short-lived second manned program was based on the successful implementation of landing technology (third in the World after USSR and USA) by FSW satellites. It was announced in 1978 with the open publishing of some details including photos, but then was abruptly canceled in 1980. It has been argued that the second manned program was created solely for propaganda purposes, and was never intended to produce results.[16]
[edit] Project 921
In 1992, authorization and funding was given for Project 921, which was a plan to launch a manned spacecraft. The Shenzhou program had four unmanned test flights. The first one was Shenzhou 1 on November 20, 1999. On January 9, 2001 Shenzhou 2 launched carrying test animals. Shenzhou 3 and Shenzhou 4 were launched in 2002, carrying test dummies. Following these was the successful Shenzhou 5, China's first manned mission in space on October 15, 2003, which carried Yang Liwei in orbit for 21 hours and made China the third nation to launch a human into orbit. Shenzhou 6 followed two years later. At least two more Shenzhou missions, with multiple crew members, space walks, and dockings, remain in planning. Missions are launched on the Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
[edit] Space station
The PRC initially designed the Shenzhou ships with docking equipment suitable for the International Space Station (ISS) and built its launching platforms in the appropriate latitude for a rendezvous. Following the success of Shenzhou 5, the PRC formally requested to join the ISS, but the United States strongly opposed the plan. The PRC in turn announced its intention to build its own space station via program named Project 921-2. The unofficial websites suggest that Shenzhou 8 (an unmanned space lab) Shenzhou 9 (unmanned) and a manned Shenzhou 10 will be docked in late 2010 to form a primitive space station, much like the Soviet Union's early Salyut program. The PRC has now turned its diplomatic attention to establishing further joint programs with the European Space Agency and Russia.
[edit] Moon landing
In February 2004, the PRC formally started the implementation phase of its unmanned Moon exploration project. According to Sun Laiyan, administrator of the China National Space Administration, the project will involve three phases: orbiting the Moon; landing; and returning samples. The first phase planned to spend 1.4 billion renminbi (approx. US$170 million) to orbit a satellite around the Moon before 2007, which is ongoing. Phase two involves sending a lander before 2010. Phase three involves collecting lunar soil samples before 2020.
On November 27, 2005, the deputy commander of the manned spaceflight program announced that the PRC planned to complete a space station and a manned mission to the Moon by 2020, assuming funding was approved by the government. Towards that end they intended to perfect space walking and docking by 2012.
On December 14, 2005, it was reported "an effort to launch lunar orbiting satellites will be supplanted in 2007 by a program aimed at accomplishing an unmanned lunar landing. A program to return unmanned space vehicles from the moon will begin in 2012 and last for five years, until the manned program gets underway" in 2017, with a manned Moon landing some time after that. [1]
Nonetheless, the decision to develop a totally new moon rocket able to launch a 500 tons payload has been discussed in a 2006 conference by academician Zhang Guitian (张贵田), a liquid propellant rocket engine speciallist, who developed the CZ-2 and CZ-4A rockets engines. [17] [18] [19]
On June 22, 2006, Long Lehao, deputy chief architect of the lunar probe project, laid out a schedule for China's lunar exploration. He set 2024 as the date of China's first moonwalk [2].
Yang Liwei declared at the 16th Human in Space Symposium of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) in Beijing, on May 22, 2007 that building a lunar base was a crucial step to realize a flight to Mars and farther planets.[20]
ON November 26, 2007, Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space Administration, stated that China currently has no plan for manned Moon missions.[21]
[edit] Mission to Mars and beyond
Sun Laiyan, administrator of the China National Space Administration, said on July 20, 2006, that China would start deep space exploration focusing on Mars over the next five years, during the 11th Five-Year (2006-2010) Program period.[22]
The first unmanned Mars exploration program should take place between the 2014-2033 period, followed by a manned phase in 2040-2060.[23]
Moreover, in order to make manned flight in deep space toward Mars safer, a space weather forecast system will be completed by 2012 with the Kuafu[24] mission satellites placed at the Lagrangian Point L1.[25]
Chief designer of the Shenzhou spacecraft Qi Faren has stated in 2006 in an interview that:
| “ | 戚发韧：搞航天工程不是要达成升空之旅 [26] The Chinese manned space program is not aimed at sending tourists into space, |
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[edit] Goals
PRC's space program has several goals. The China National Space Administration policy white paper lists short term goals as:
- build a long term earth observation system
- set up an independent satellite telecommunications network
- establish an independent satellite navigation and positioning system
- provide commercial launch services
- set up a remote sensing system
- study space science such as microgravity, space materials, life sciences, and astronomy
- plan for exploration of the moon
Among their stated longer term goals are:
- improve their standing in the world of space science
- establish a manned space station.
- manned missions to the moon
- establish a manned lunar base.
[edit] List of Projects
[edit] Satellites and science
- Space-Based ASAT System Small and nano-satellites developed by the Small Satellite Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology [27]
- Double Star Mission joint with ESA
- Dong Fang Hong series of satellites
- Tianlian 2 (天链二号) Next generation data relay satellite (DRS) system based on the DFH-4 satellite bus, with two satellites providing up to 85% coverage. [28]
- Beidou navigation system or Compass Navigation Satellite System, composed of 60 to 70 satellites, during the "11th Five-Year Plan" period (2006-2010) [29]
- Astrophysics research, with the launch of the world's largest Solar Space Telescope in 2008, and a Space Hard X-Ray Modulation Telescope by 2010.
- Kuafu mission satellites for space weather forecast, will be completed by 2012 [30]
- Deep Space Tracking Network with the completion of the FAST, the world largest single dish radio antenna of 500 m in Guizhou, and a 3000 km VLBI radio antenna
[edit] Satellite Launch Center
- Hainan Spaceport Fourth and southernmost space center, will be upgraded to suit the new CZ-5 Heavy ELV and manned lunar missions
[edit] Launch vehicles
- SLV Small Launch Vehicle, with short launch preparation period, low cost and high reliability, to meet the launch need of small satellites up to 500 kg to 700 km SSO [31]
- Air-Launched SLV Able to place a 50 kilogram plus payload to 500 km SSO [32]
- Kaituozhe-1, KT-2, KT-2A New all-solid orbital launch vehicles
- CZ-1D Based on a CZ-1, but with a new N2O4/UDMH second stage
- CZ-2E(A) Intended for launch of Chinese space station modules
- CZ-3B(A) More powerful Long March rockets using larger-size liquid propellant strap-on motors
- CZ-3C Launch vehicle combining CZ-3B core with two boosters from CZ-2E
- Chang Zheng 5 Second generation ELV with more efficient and non toxic propellents (25 tonnes in LEO)
- Chang Zheng 6 Second generation Heavy ELV for lunar and deep space trajectory injection (70 tonnes in LEO), capable of supporting a Soviet L1/L3-like lunar landing mission [33]
- Project 921-3 Space Shuttle — Second generation manned spacecraft Shenlong Spaceplane
- HTS Maglev Launch Assist Space Shuttle New second generation manned reusable spacecraft
- Moon rocket Able to launch a 500 tons payload, development discussed in a 2006 conference by academician Zhang Guitian [17] [18] [19]
[edit] Space exploration
- Project 921-1 — Shenzhou spacecraft
- Project 921-2 — Chinese Space Lab and Chinese Permanent Space Station short term and then permanent occupation [34]
- Shenzhou Cargo — unmanned version of the Shenzhou spacecraft to resupply the Chinese Permanent Space Station
- Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
- Chang'e program — unmanned lunar probe (first phase lunar program)
- Second phase lunar program — first settlements and lunar resources exploitation
- Third phase lunar program — permanent lunar bases and full scale exploitation
- Chinese Mars exploration program — Yinghuo-1 orbiter scheduled for launch in October 2009 in the joint Phobos-Grunt mission with Russia. Further planned missions include rover landers and possible manned missions in the far future. Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian Space Agency has revealed in September 2006 in RIA Novosti that China was about to sign a contract by the end of 2006 to participate in a Russian project to bring soil back to Earth from Phobos, one of Mars two moons.[35] The mission will also collect samples on Mars, according to Xinhua.[36]
- Deep space exploration — spacefaring through the entire Solar system
[edit] Research
The Center for Space Science and Applied Research (CSSAR), was founded in 1987 by merging the former Institute of Space Physics (i.e. the Institute of Applied Geophysics founded in 1958) and the Center for Space Science and Technology (founded in 1978). The research fields of CSSAR mainly cover 1. Space Engineering Technology; 2. Space Weather Exploration, Research, and Forecasting; 3. Microwave Remote Sensing and Information Technology.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ See Squadron Leader KK Nair, "Space: The Frontiers of Modern Defence", chapters, New Delhi. Chapter-5. Pgs 117-134.
- ^ Project 581
- ^ 中国航天大事记(1956～2005). 国家航天局网 (May 17, 2006). Retrieved on May 2, 2008.
- ^ 中国第一枚自行设计制造的试验 探空火箭T-7M发射场遗址. 南汇医保信息网 (June 19, 2006). Retrieved on May 8, 2008.
- ^ 解密——640工程：中国超级反导大炮项目 图. 第三媒体 (September 2, 2006). Retrieved on May 4, 2008.
- ^ 航天科技游圣地——东风航天城. 新华网内蒙古频道 (December 5, 2007). Retrieved on May 7, 2008.
- ^ 烟台航天城“起航”了 力争成我国航天技术发展基地. 水母网 (April 2, 2005). Retrieved on May 9, 2008.
- ^ 烟台大众网--神舟六号专题:513所简介. 烟台大众网 (June 6, 2007). Retrieved on May 9, 2008.
- ^ 中国第一枚自行设计制造的试验 探空火箭T-7M发射场遗址. 南汇医保信息网 (June 19, 2006). Retrieved on May 8, 2008.
- ^ 军事史话（第七部） 导弹部队史话. 蓝田玉PDF小说网 (March 1, 2008). Retrieved on June 4, 2008.
- ^ 贝时璋院士：开展宇宙生物学研究. 新浪 (November 15, 2006). Retrieved on May 8, 2008.
- ^ 远望六号航天测量船交付将执行神七任务. 人 民 网 (April 14, 2008). Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ 我国首颗中继卫星发射成功 将测控神七飞行. 人 民 网 (April 26, 2008). Retrieved on April 27, 2008.
- ^ 天链一号01星发射现场DV实录. 新浪 (April 27, 2008). Retrieved on May 5, 2008.
- ^ 海南省三亚市新型综合航天测控站建成并投入使用. 中国政府网 (April 25, 2008). Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
- ^ Chinese Manned Capsule 1978. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
- ^ a b 针对我们国家登月火箭的猜测. 虚幻军事天空. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ a b 中国载人登月火箭及其动力系统设想. 国家航天局网 (July 25, 2006). Retrieved on May 9, 2008.
- ^ a b 河北院士联谊. 河北院士联谊会秘书处. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ Astronauts share their experiences. People Daily (May 22, 2007). Retrieved on May 22, 2007.
- ^ You must specify title = and url = when using {{cite web}}.. Xinhua (November 26, 2007). Retrieved on June 10, 2008.
- ^ People's Daily Online - Roundup: China to develop deep space exploration in five years
- ^ 中国嫦娥探月工程进展顺利 进度将有望加快-军事频道-中华网-中国最大职业人士门户
- ^ 我国目光超越月球 "夸父计划"雄心勃勃-科技-人民网
- ^ People's Daily Online - China plans new space project probing Sun-Earth environment
- ^ 戚发韧：神六后中国航天面临极大挑战. 人 民 网 (January 15, 2006). Retrieved on May 13, 2008.
- ^ 中国深空前沿:军事潜力巨大的小卫星研究(组图). 腾讯新闻 (July 19, 2004). Retrieved on May 3, 2008.
- ^ 我国现役和研制中的卫星与飞船谱系图:上排右一会不会是TL-2 ?. 虚幻天空 (June 8, 2008). Retrieved on June 8, 2008.
- ^ China constructs space information "highway". People Daily (May 23, 2007). Retrieved on May 23, 2007.
- ^ 夸父计划进入技术攻关 将发射3颗测日卫星. 新华网 (April 16, 2008). Retrieved on April 21, 2008.
- ^ 国际空间大学公众论坛关注中国航天（3）. People Daily (July 11, 2007). Retrieved on July 13, 2007.
- ^ 空射运载火箭亮相珠海航展. 新华网 (November 1, 2006). Retrieved on May 3, 2008.
- ^ Chinese Manned Space Program: The Future. Go Taikonauts! (February 4, 2006). Retrieved on August 2, 2007.
- ^ 中国航天921-III计划. 虚幻军事天空 (July 15, 2008). Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
- ^ Russia, China could sign Moon exploration pact in 2006. RIA Novosti (September 11, 2006). Retrieved on September 12, 2006.
- ^ China and Russia to launch joint mission to Mars. PhysOrg.com (August 23, 2006). Retrieved on September 11, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Center for Space Science and Applied Research — Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
- CNN.com timeline of China space program
- Go Taikonauts! - An Unofficial Chinese Space Website
- Mark Wade 's Encyclopedia Astronautica
- China's Space Ambitions, analysis by Joan Johnson-Freese, IFRI Proliferation Papers n° 18, 2007
- US Senate testimony on Chinese space program, given by James Oberg.
- Excerpts from Senate Q&A period on Chinese space program
- Dragon Space - China's civilian, military and manned space programs
- Chinese Threat to American Leadership in Space - Analysis by Gabriele Garibaldi
- Chinese Astronaut Biographies
- Scientific American Magazine (October 2003 Issue) China's Great Leap Upward
- White paper on china space activities the coming 5 years (released 2006)
[edit] News
- Scientist Targets 2024 for China's First Moon Walk Associated Press (via SPACE.com) 20 June 2006 11:59 am ET
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