11 May 2020
Jean Deville published in his Aerospaceblog a two-part article on Chinese spaceplanes. The first part sets the context of spaceplanes in China, and goes over past attempts to make such vehicles. Part 2 provides an overview analysis of current projects under development from Chinese state-owned and private companies.
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Part 1: A Historical Perspective on Chinese Spaceplanes
Part 2: China’s Spaceplane Projects: Past, Present and Future
09 May 2020
A "space 3D printer" developed independently by China and two samples it printed in orbit successfully returned to Earth onboard the return capsule of the test version of the new-generation manned spaceship on 8 May. It is China's first in-orbit 3D printing test, which has realized space 3D printing of continuous carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites for the first time in the world.
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09 May 2020
China's new ocean-monitoring satellite HY-1D has passed factory tests, paving the way for its launch at a suitable time, the Ministry of National Resources said on 9 May. It is the country's fourth satellite for monitoring ocean color and an operational satellite for China's civil space infrastructure system, according to the National Satellite Ocean Application Center under the Ministry.
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08 May 2020
HAN propelled engine; Large volume composite tank; Data Management and Processing System; Autonomous track control technology; On-orbit data acquisition system; New lightweight heat shield; Combined parachute and airbag landing
MORE on the Chinese language website of CMSA (please, use Google Translation)
Which experiments were conducted inside the new-generation manned spacecraft?
Tribological behavior of liquid lubricating materials; Microgravity acceleration measurement technology; Integrated electronic information architecture design; Acoustic leakage and collision system
Fiber grid sensor system; Metal / ceramic materials for additive manufacturing; CubeSat Deployer; Microbial oil extraction strain; Seed in Space experiment
MORE on the Chinese language website of CMSA (please, use Google Translation)
08 May 2020
The return capsule of the trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 13:49 h (Beijing Time) on 8 May. The test was a complete success, CMSA said. Developed by CAST, the test spaceship is nearly 9 m tall and about 4.5 m at its widest point. It weighs more than 20 t. Different from the three-capsule structure of Shenzhou spaceships currently in use, the new spacecraft comprises a return capsule, which is the command center and the living place for astronauts, and a service capsule, which provides power and energy, according to the CAST.
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another photo report on China Daily
Congratulatory message from the Central Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the successful first mission of the Long March 5B carrier rocket
in Chinese language on CMSA website...
08 May 2020
The return capsule of the trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 13:49 h (Beijing Time) on 8 May, to the Beijing Aerospace Control Centre. The center said in a statement at the beginning of the re-entry process, the prototype activated its brake engines after receiving control signals from the center, shortly after starting to move toward the Earth. The re-entry module then separated from the prototype's service module and began to fall back to the atmosphere. As the module approached the ground, it released parachutes to decelerate before finally landing at 13:49 h on the Dongfeng Landing Site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
The craft was spotted and recovered by personnel from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
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