14 July 2020
China’s Tianwen-1 Mars spacecraft appears slated for a July 23 launch date (the opening of the launch window). The orbiter will provide a relay communication link to the rover, while performing its own scientific observations for one Martian year. The orbit during the scientific observation stage is a polar elliptical orbit 165 miles x 746 miles (265 km × 12,000 kilometers). The Tianwen-1 probe is expected to reach Mars around February 2021 and the scientific observation phase will start in April 2021.
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13 July 2020
On the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the creation of the state-owned corporation Roscosmos on 13 July, Alexander Milkus of Komsomolskaya Pravda spoke with Dmitry Rogozin, about the future of Russian space activities. He also discussed with Rogozin the options for international or bilateral cooperation regarding lunar exploration. Rogozin told the journalist that he had a teleconference with the Head of CNSA Zhang Kejian in the morning of the very same day of the interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda. Rogozin and Zhang agreed to begin the first steps in the definition of the future lunar base, which will hopefully become an international project. Rogozin stressed that China has achieved a lot over the last years and that has earned his respect. China is a "worthy partner". Russia is about to restart its once so successful lunar exploration missions. The planned series of Luna probe mission and the next generation heavy-lift rocket could support an international lunar research base in the Moon's South Pole region. Currently, China and Russia share information about their respective lunar plans and try to find synergies in their efforts. "Therefore, China, yes, is certainly our partner.", Rogozin stressed.
Link to the interview in Russian in the Komsomolskaya Pravda
short summary be Eric Berger for Arstechnica: Russian space chief questions NASA plans, praises partnership with China
14 July 2020
China's mars probe Tianwen 1 arrived at port on Hainan Island. Tianwen 1 is set to be launched from Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre atop a Long March 5 carrier rocket in the coming days. The spacecraft, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, is now undergoing pre-launch preparations at the cosmodrome in the coastal city of Wenchang before lift-off for China's first independent Mars exploration. The space contractor said the probe consists of three parts - the orbiter, the lander and the rover - and they will separate in Mars' orbit. The orbiter will stay in orbit for scientific operations and signal relay while the lander-rover combination will make an autonomous descent and landing.
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RELATED article on SCMP
China readies to send space probe on Tianwen-1 mission to Mars
13 July 2020
China has been actively engaged with the international space community, providing services to global users, strengthening cooperation and contributing Chinese know-how. The Xichang Satellite Launch Centre contributed to launched for many countries, such as Nigeria, Bolivia, Belarus and Algeria. Since its establishment in 1970, the centre has witnessed 34 international launches, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the country's total foreign satellite launch missions. China has continued to participate and deepen international cooperation for manned missions. It has forged several collaborative projects with countries, including Russia, Germany, France, Italy, and organizations such as the European Space Agency and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
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13 July 2020
China's space tracking ship Yuanwang 6 departed from a port in east China's Jiangsu Province on 13 July for multiple spacecraft monitoring missions. Yuanwang 6, the third-generation Yuanwang space tracking ship, will carry out missions in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It will complete a one-way voyage of more than 10,000 nautical miles and operate at sea for 100 days. This is the first time for a Yuanwang ship to perform missions in the three oceans during a single voyage.
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09 July 2020
The Export-Import Bank of the United States is supporting U.S. commercial space companies which have to compete with Chinese service providers. Sandra Erwin reports for SpaceNews that "U.S. companies in the space sector face tough competition from Chinese government-backed companies and the Ex-Im Bank now has a mandate from Congress to help level the playing field, David Trulio, a bank senior vice president said at a virtual forum hosted by Ex-Im. Trulio, a former Defense Department official, runs Ex-Im’s “Program on China and Transformational Exports.” The program was directed by Congress when it signed a seven-year re-authorization for Ex-Im on December 20, 2019."
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