Hong Kong Developing Chang'e 8 Robot, Long March 5B Ramps Up Launches, New Engines Tested
HKUST has been chosen by CNSA for Chang'e 8's robot, the Long March 5B is expected to increase its cadence, and much more.
It was just two days ago that China Space Updates covered the latest round of news from China’s space sector, but in the few days since the space industry has been incredibly busy.
Recent news has had two new engines being powered up for testing, the Long March 5B is preparing for a higher launch cadence, HKUST being chosen to build Chang'e 8's robot, a key figure in China's space weather network passed away, and another batch of mega-constellation satellites is on its way to the launchpad. Rumors have also been emerging from OrienSpace about the company’s leadership.
HKUST to lead development of Chang’e 8 robot
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (香港科技大學), shortened to HKUST, announced on December 17th that it had been selected by the China National Space Administration to lead the development of a multi-purpose robot for use during the Chang’e 8 mission, planned for 2028.
This robot is expected to weigh 100 kilograms and conduct multi-functional lunar surface operations while being dexterous and housing a mobile wireless charging station. These requirements are planned to assist in the development of deep space exploration technologies along with the early operations of the International Lunar Research Station.
HKUST will lead the development of the robot and collaborate with a team of experts from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (香港理工大學), the University of Hong Kong (香港大學), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (香港中文大學), City University of Hong Kong (香港城市大學), the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, Dalian University of Technology (大连理工大学), Shenzhen University (深圳大学), and the South African National Space Agency. To keep the development moving forward along with organizing the international team, the Hong Kong Space Robotics and Energy Center will be established.
Speaking about potential challenges with the robot, Yu Hongyu, Director of the HKUST Space Science and Technology Institute, outlined the following:
"First, our robot venturing into the lunar south pole will encounter extremely low temperatures. To ensure its reliable performance, the use of advanced materials and temperature management systems is essential. Secondly, the absence of satellite navigation on the Moon means a smart design is required to effectively address the complexities of positioning, navigation, autonomous movement and operational control. At the same time, the robot must stay lightweight while handling multiple precision tasks and serving as a charger for other lunar equipment. By leveraging the unique strengths of each team member, we will create an innovative robot by optimizing the design with advanced materials and manufacturing techniques. The project will adhere to China's aerospace quality assurance mechanism to ensure the national mission is accomplished with flying colors."
Further details shared by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology are available in English here.
Long March 5B preparing for increased launch cadence
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology’s Long March 5B launch vehicle recently performed its first non-China Manned Space Agency-related mission when it carried ten GuoWang satellites into low Earth orbit. Following this launch, China Central Television released a report detailing improvements made to the rocket along with some future plans.
According to the report, over twenty technical improvements have been made, one of which effectively dampens vibrations and shocks during launch for payloads atop of the rocket. Along with technical improvements, optimizations to the integration, test, and launch process have been implemented, reducing the time needed from fifty-four days to forty-three days. Teams believe that the time needed can be further reduced to thirty-seven days, for up to ten launches of the Long March 5B in one year.
Another improvement made to the rocket is an improved fault diagnosis and stage disposal system. The fault diagnosis system is capable of discovering and solving problems in flight, determining the best cause of action with remaining capabilities. A stage disposal system is also included now to quickly and accurately bring the first-stage into the atmosphere with a suborbital trajectory, previous Long March 5B launches raised concerns about debris.
For future launches of multiple satellites on one rocket, like those for GuoWang and Qianfan, Yuanzheng-2 upper-stages are set to be integrated on top of the launch vehicle inside the fairing. Yuanzheng upper-stages are usually used for additional post-launch maneuvers but with the Long March 5B the stage is used to enter orbit quickly after the rocket's first-stage shuts down, then bringing the satellites to their desired orbit.
Future missions for the Long March 5B will have the launch vehicle deliver additional modules to the Tiangong Space Station, including the Xuntian telescope, and launches of China’s mega-constellations. With the Long March 5B set to launch with an increasing launch cadence it has been reported that the vehicle is cost-competitive with SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9.
Space Transportation reaches Mach 4 with ramjet
Space Transportation (凌空天行) revealed on December 17th that the company had successfully performed a test of its JinDou400 ramjet engine. This test had the engine generate 400 kilograms of thrust to send a 3-meter-long 30 centimeters diameter vehicle to an altitude of 20 kilometers while reaching a speed of Mach 4.
Following the test, Space Transportation, via the South China Morning Post, said the following about the test:
"This test flight provided key performance data on the engine, validating critical systems including the fuel supply, electrical and control systems," — "It also confirmed the engine's stability and reliability, marking a major milestone in its development from a prototype to a fully functional product."
Also according to The Post, a ramjet engine generates thrust by using shock waves from detonation combustion to compress the incoming air, eliminating the need for compressors and turbine components. Simplifying structures, improving the thrust-to-weight ratio, and lowering costs.
Space Transportation’s long-term plans have the company developing a supersonic civilian aircraft capable of flying from Beijing to New York in roughly two hours. By 2027 the company wants to have an aircraft capable of flying at Mach 4 at an altitude of 20 kilometers, by 2030 Space Transportation hopes to offer point-to-point commercial flights.
Video via raz_liu on Twitter and 瘦驼 on Weibo.
YF-90 engine fired for first time
The Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation announced on December 18th that the day prior, the 17th, it had conducted the first static fire of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen YF-90 engine at the Laiyuan Test Center, in Hebei province.
This test had the YF-90 engine generate 220 tons of thrust, demonstrating its staged combustion cycle and China’s ability to perform tests of high-thrust hydrogen engines. A firing duration was not disclosed.
The YF-90 engine is expected to be used on high-thrust upper stages and reusable rocket stages. As mentioned previously, the engine will burn liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to generate 220 tons of thrust with a specific impulse of 453 seconds. The engine will be capable of throttling between 60 and 100 percent of its thrust while being restartable in flight.
Scientist Zhang Xiaoxin dies
China’s National Satellite Meteorological Centre published an obituary on December 17th that stated Zhang Xiaoxin (张晓欣), a key figure behind the Fengyun meteorological satellites, had passed away in a car crash two days prior, on the 15th, at the age of 62.
Zhang was born in Shandong Province, in Eastern China, in 1962. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in physics from Jilin University in 1987 and a PhD in space physics from Auburn University in the United States in 2003. In 2007 Zhang returned from the U.S. to build and develop China’s space weather infrastructure.
Back in China, Zhang led efforts to complete a space weather disaster observation network that would assist Shenzhou and Chang’e missions along with implementing and expanding weather services for aviation, communications, and space launch missions.
During his life, Zhang won many awards and was the Director of the Space Weather Office of the National Satellite Meteorological Centre, Co-Chair of the International Space Weather Coordination Group of the World Meteorological Organization, and an expert advisor to the International Civil Aviation Organization at the time of his death.
Fourth Qianfan batch to be launched on Long March 8
Three days ago the Long March 8 Y5 vehicle was moved to Commercial Launch Pad 1 at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site ahead of launch. NOTAMs indicate this mission will take place on December 23rd.
Yesterday, December 17th, China Daily’s Zhao Lei revealed that the Long March 8 Y5 mission will carry the fourth batch of Qianfan satellites into orbit, with Zhao writing:
“China Daily has learned that the mission, scheduled for next week, will deploy several satellites for the Spacesail* Constellation network. The network currently operates 54 satellites in Earth's orbit, providing high-speed broadband internet services to users worldwide.”
*Qianfan is also called Spacesail in English.
So far three batches of Qianfan satellites have been launched, all from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center by the Long March 6A. These three batches have allowed for fifty-four satellites to be deployed in orbit.
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, Qianfan’s operator, has not said how many satellites will be atop of the Long March 8, but the vehicle has a similar payload capacity to the Long March 6A, meaning eighteen satellites will likely be onboard. When this mission does launch next week it will be the first mission from Commercial Launch Pad 1.
OrienSpace undergoes leadership change?
On December 16th reports began to surface about a major leadership change inside OrienSpace, operator of China’s most capable commercial launch vehicle, Gravity-1.
According to unnamed sources, the report states that Yao Song (姚颂) was pushed out of his Co-Chief Executive Officer role at OrienSpace after becoming the Executive Director of the Tsinghua Entrepreneurs Association, with company co-founder Peng Haomin (彭昊旻) claiming that Yao was only a “financing leader” in an internal meeting. Following this, the report claims that Bu Xiangwei (布向伟), OrienSpace’s Chief Technology Officer, was made Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company.
The report also claims that OrienSpace is struggling to secure additional investor funding, with investors wanting to see the launch of the second Gravity-1 vehicle and the debut of the partially reusable Gravity-2 launch vehicle. OrienSpace had been planning to launch Gravity-1 three times this year, but so far the company has only launched the vehicle once back in January.
OrienSpace has not announced any changes in company leadership with other sources at the company stating that Yao is still Co-Chief Executive Officer.