CZ-8 launched from Wenchang with 22 satellites
27 February 2022
China launched a CZ-8 rocket and placed 22 satellites in space on 27 February, setting a domestic record for the most spacecraft launched by a single rocket. 15 min after launch, the satellites were released in 12 groups. They will be mainly used for commercial remote sensing services, marine environment monitoring, forest fire prevention and disaster mitigation. 10 of the satellites belong to Changguang Satellite Technology. The other payloads belong to 6 other entities - institutes or private companies.
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CZ-4C took-off from Jiuquan with L-SAR 01B
26 February 2022
L-SAR 01B, built by SAST, will be used to monitor Earth's geological environment, landslides and earthquakes. It can radar image the land surface in high-definition. L-SAR 01 is a satellite group composed of two satellites equipped with L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), namely the L-SAR 01A and the L-SAR 01B. L-SAR 01A was sent into space on 26 January. The two satellites will be tasked with providing round-the-clock, all-weather observation data to support land resource, mapping, forestry, and disaster prevention and relief uses. They will significantly strengthen rapid response capabilities in the event of a natural disaster.
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China establishes deep-space exploration laboratory
26 February 2022
CNSA, Anhui Province and the University of Science and Technology of China have established a deep-space exploration laboratory. It will carry out science and technology research focusing on major national projects in the field of deep space exploration, and it will promote the transformation of research achievements. CNSA will support the lab to join the construction of major engineering projects, including the 4th phase of the lunar exploration programme, the planetary exploration programme, the ILRS and the asteroid defense system, according to CNSA's head Zhang Kejian. It will also support the lab to develop large-scale basic scientific research facilities in the field of deep-space exploration, and foster international scientific programmes and international cooperation projects.
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New-generation manned launch vehicle may have reusable 1st stage
25 February 2022
China's new-generation manned launch vehicle may have a reusable 1st stage that can make a vertical soft landing, Wang Xiaojun, Head of CALT told Science and Technology Daily.
The reusable first stage can perform engine deceleration during the reentry, and control itself and decelerate by pneumatic rudders. During the landing, the 1st stage will be further decelerated and secured by a mesh-like recovery system on the ground, which will allocate more returning components from the rocket to the ground to reduce the launch vehicle load, Wang told a recent international symposium on manned space flight development.
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