SASTIND confirms earlier unofficial information on CZ-5 failure in July 2017
17 April 2018
The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense finally confirmed publicly the cause of the CZ-5 failure from last summer: a quality issue in the structure of the turbopump in the YF-77 cryogenic engines of the Long March 5 core first stage.
Already during the IAC2017 in Adelaide, Australia, China confirmed that the failure of the CZ-5 was related to the first stage's core engines. In November 2017, unofficial reports emerged that the cause of the failure was pin-pointed and the talk was about the turbo pump. Several space expert websites (compare: spaceflight101.com) wrote already earlier this year that "a structural problem causing the turbopump rotor shaft enclosure cap within one of the YF-77 engines to break off and created a blockage within the propellant line."
China opens first overseas center for BeiDou navigation satellite system in Tunisia
11 April 2018
The China-Arab States BDS/GNSS Center, the first overseas center for China's indigenous BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), was officially inaugurated in Tunisia on 10 April. The center is established as a pilot project between China and the Tunisia-based Arab Information and Communication Technology Organization (AICTO), an Arab governmental organization under the Arab League, to promote the global application of the BDS, said Ran Chengqi, director of China Satellite Navigation Office.
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Flowers on the Moon? China's Chang'e 4 to launch lunar spring
12 April 2018
The Chang'e 4 lunar probe will carry a tin containing seeds of potato and arabidopsis, a small flowering plant related to cabbage and mustard, and probably some silkworm eggs to conduct the first biological experiment on the Moon. The "lunar mini biosphere" experiment was designed by 28 Chinese universities, led by southwest China's Chongqing University, a conference on scientific and technological innovation of Chongqing Municipality has heard.
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China launches Yaogan-31 remote sensing satellites
10 April 2018
The first group of China's Yaogan-31 remote sensing satellites were sent into space on 10 April at 12:25 h Beijing time from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. The satellites were carried by a Long March-4C rocket, the 271st mission for the Long March rocket family.
The mission also sent a micro nano technology experiment satellite into orbit.
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