03 April 2022
In this episode of the Dongfang Hour, Jean Deville is making a deep dive into the history of the CZ-2 rocket. He explains the variants and the efforts, China took to develop the CZ-2F for human space missions. More news can be found in the weekly newsletter https://www.getrevue.co/profile/dongfanghour
And if you like to support Jean and Blaine, maybe you would like to buy them a coffee? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dongfanghour
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31 March 2022
On 31 March, Tianzhou 2 was guided to a controlled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere at 18:40 BJT. Most of the spacecraft burned up during the process. Debris fell into the designated area in the South Pacific. TZ-2 was launched on 29 May 2021 with 6.8 t of supplies mainly for the Shenzhou 12 mission, including 2 t of propellant, more than 160 packages of supplies as well as 2 EVA suits. It left the docking port on the Tianhe module on 27 March 2022.
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30 March 2022
A CZ-11 launched on 30 March at 10:29 BJT from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre and carried 3 Tianping satellites into space. The three satellites Tianping-2A, Tianping-2B and Tianping-2C will provide services such as atmospheric space environment survey and orbital prediction model correction.
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29 March 2022
A modified version of the CZ-6 carrier rocket with a liquid fuelled core stages and 4 solid strap-on boosters of 2 m diameter each, made its premier flight on 29 March 2022 at 17:50 BJT, sending two satellites into planned orbit. The SAST-built rocket, named CZ-6A, was launched from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. It is a 50 m tall, medium-lift rocket of 530 t lift-off mass and a payload capacity of 4 t into SSO. The 1st and 2nd core stages have a diameter of 3.35 m. The 1st core stage is propelled by a 120 t-thrust engine and the 2nd by a 18 t-thrust engine. Both are burning liquid oxygen and kerosene. For the first time, a Chinese rocket is equipped with solid strap-on boosters. It can send satellites into LEO, SSO and intermediate circular orbit.
One of the two launched satellites, Pujiang 2, will carry out scientific test and research, land and resources survey and other tasks. It was also built by SAST. The other satellite, Tiankun 2, was built by CASIC. It will carry out verification of space environment detection technology test.
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30 March 2022
As part of the 13th China Satellite Navigation Conference in 2022, the China Satellite Navigation Exhibition will be held from 25 - 27 May in Beijing, highlighting applications of satellite navigation in emerging fields, according to the exhibition organiser. The 3-day exhibition aims at promoting the in-depth integration of satellite navigation with emerging fields, such as the 5G, artificial intelligence, big data and geographic information. It is also expected to boost the integration of satellite navigation with digitalisation and the application of information technology.
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29 March 2022
The SZ-13 crew is preparing for its return to Earth in mid-April. The 3 taikonauts are packing up personal items, experiment data and samples of some of the 20 conducted science researches and other materials, putting equipment into place and intensify their exercise regime for adjusting physiologically for Earth's gravity. The crew has to prepare the Tianhe module for approx. 1 month of automatic flight before the next crew will arrive. The new SZ-14 crew has already been selected and is finalising its mission specific training. The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, responsible for human landing operations, held a rescue drill on 28 March for the SZ-13's return at its Dongfeng landing site, simulating the whole process from spotting the return capsule to various rescue and settlement arrangements.
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