20 February 2019
Chinese space has been a very hot topic in recent years. These start-ups, supported by venture capital heavy-weights are covering the entire space industrial chain: launchers, satellite platforms, satellite subsystems, satellite services, ground segment, etc. The number of space start-ups on the other hand, is a debated question.
This article aims at giving a more thorough count of Chinese NewSpace players, by defining the criteria used to consider a company as a “NewSpace company”, and by arranging them into a map based on their role in the space industrial chain (for this, we will base our map structure on the Euroconsult Space Value Chain model.
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24 February 2019
Graphene, a form of carbon consisting of just one atom-thick layer, could enable light-powered propulsion technology leading to fuel-free spacecraft. The reach in distance by traditional spacecraft depends on the amount of chemical propellants they carry, said Song Shengju, the research leader at the CALT. Previous research conducted by Professor Chen Yongsheng, of Nankai University, showed that sails made of graphene can be driven by various light sources including sunlight, and the thrust generated is 1,000 times higher than that of polyimide film in vacuum conditions. "It's just the beginning. We need to conduct further research on the mechanisms and properties of the graphene and light-powered spacecraft. If we make breakthroughs in this technology, it would facilitate exploration to the unknown universe," Song said.
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21 February 2019
The Preliminary Evaluation of the applications received for the "First Announcement of Opportunity for Space Experiments on-board China Space Station" has been accomplished and the Selection concluded with the following results:
Over the past few months, a total of 42 applications, from organisations in 27 countries, have been received by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and carefully evaluated by around 60 experts from UNOOSA, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and international space experts, in line with the eligibility and selection criteria outlined in the first Announcement of Opportunity. Based on the results of the evaluation, a comprehensive preliminary selection meeting was held to shortlist proposals.
The selection exercise for this first cycle has been extremely competitive and after careful evaluation of all the applications by the Project Evaluation and Selection Committee (PESC), 18 applications out of the 42 received have been shortlisted for preparing implementation schemes for the final evaluation and selection, the results of which will be announced in June 2019.
The proposed experiment ideas stretch from simple to complex, from space medicine to astrophysical observations - all reflecting the creativity and commitment of the involved scientists from public and private entities in both developing and developed countries.
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21 February 2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping met representatives of space scientists and engineers who participated in the research and development of the Chang'e 4 mission at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 20 February afternoon. Xi called on science and technology workers and space engineers in China to ride on the wave of the Chang'e 4 mission to achieve the general goal of China's lunar project, make more efforts to push forward the international aerospace cause and bring more Chinese wisdom, solutions and force to the peaceful use of space and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
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