China to launch 100 t heavy-lift carrier rocket around 2028
30 September 2021
A heavy-lift carrier rocket in China able to carry a payload of 100 t is expected to be launched around 2028. The rocket will be employed for manned lunar missions and deep-space exploration missions. A model of the new-gen heavy-lift carrier rocket is being exhibited at the Airshow China 2021. Carrying different numbers of boosters, the new rocket series will be able to send spacecraft weighing between 50 to 140 t to LEO, and 15 to 50 t to Earth-Moon transfer orbit. Besides, it can also carry spacecraft of 12 to 44 t mass to Earth-Mars transfer orbit.
MORE...
FAST wins top honor for Chinese civil engineering projects
30 September 2021
The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), the world's largest radio telescope, located in Pingtang county, has won the 18th Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize or "Zhantianyou Prize", the top honor for Chinese civil engineering projects, on 27 September. The "Zhantianyou Prize" honors high-tech innovative projects in construction, bridge, tunnel, railway and other projects, focusing on the innovative and technological breakthroughs of incentive projects, as well as the application of new and high-tech achievements.
MORE...
1,000 days milestone for Chang'e 4 lander and rover
29 September 2021
As of 29 September, the CE-4 lunar lander and rover have worked for 1,000 Earth days on the far side of the Moon, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Centre of the China National Space Administration. Both - lander and rover - are in good condition. The payloads are also working properly and will continue the scientific exploration and data collection. As of 29 September, Yutu-2 has traveled 839.37 meters and obtained 3,632.01 GB of data.
MORE...
Refueling aircraft shown at Zhuhai Airshow
29 September 2021
A refueling aircraft, developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, made its debut at Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai. The aircraft can provide an energy guarantee for the long-term operation of satellites in orbit. The designer said the satellite can carry 1.3 t of fuel at a time, more than half of its total weight. It can cut costs by 35 % compared with re-launching a satellite.
The aircraft is equipped with an automatic driving function. When a satellite sends a message, the aircraft can autonomously track and approach the satellite using navigation systems. When it reaches within about 2 m of the satellite, it will be connected to the refueling port to deliver fuel.
MORE...