Chinese launch services A user's guide

This article describes aspects of the Chinese space programme of interest to potential users of Chinese commercial launch services. A brief history is included along with a review of the current licensing requirements of the US government. The rationale behind Aussat's choice of the Long March launch vehicle is presented as well as a brief comment on the likely future for Chinese launch services in the West.     

Priorities in space for the USA

This article follows the story of Shuttle development, in the context of the history of the US space programme from Apollo to the Space Station. The Shuttle was chosen as one of a series of ‘space spectaculars’ and has proven to be prohibitively expensive and unreliable, practical only for a very limited number of specialized missions. The Space Station, too, cannot be economically supplied, even if the USA could afford to build it. The author concludes that NASA should cancel the Space Station and the replacement orbiter for Challenger, and engage on a major programme of launch vehicle development, independent of the US military. The aim should be a dramatic reduction of launch vehicle costs, making spaceflight practical, and a truly independent NASA which could restore the USA to space preeminence.     

Canadian space policy

Canada's geography made it an early leader in the development of space technology, and generated a civilian-oriented, terrestrially focused space programme with a strong focus on communications and an increasing emphasis on transferring space technology and activity from the government to the private sector. During the 1980s Canada's space programme has strengthened and broadened measurably; its now contains major projects in Earth observation and robotics as well as communications, and has diversified its international partnerships from the USA to Europe. However, persisting weaknesses in launch capability, space science and military space programmes, and the dependence of all three current major projects (Msat, Radarsat, and the International Space Station's Mobile Servicing System) on the USA represent potential vulnerabilities which require national investments and expanded international affiliations if they are to be offset.     

空间碎片减缓策略效果仿真

根据机构间空间碎片协调委员会(IADC)和欧空局(ESA)的空间碎片减缓要求,在建立航天发射、爆炸和碰撞模型,以及碎片演化机制的基础上,对常规发射(BAU)、禁止在轨爆炸(NO-EX)和全面减缓(MIT)三种空间碎片减缓策略条件下,对2000~2100年空间碎片环境进行了仿真计算。结果表明,禁止航天器在轨爆炸、对失效的卫星和火箭上面级实施离轨操作,以及在航天器的发射和运行中不产生或抛弃分离物等减缓措施是限制空间碎片数量增长的有效方法。     

Third-party liability insurance and space launches

This article discusses a number of issues related to the US commercial expendable launch vehicle (ELV) industry and government's role in ensuring its competitiveness, particularly third-party liability insurance for space launches. The author finds that the space insurance industry has become a major constraint on the commercial development of space. The future implications are considered of US government involvement with the launch services industry, initially through providing third-party insurance itself. The author concludes that, for a stable commercial ELV industry, it will be necessary for the USA either to establish fair-trade agreements with other space-capable nations, or to maintain a significant government involvement to support the industry.     

Exploration of CASC's Commercial Space

China's commercial space activities started from the launch of Asiasat-1 satellite by a LM-3 launch vehicle on April 7, 1990. As the leading force in China's space industry, CASC has been committed to commercial space for nearly 30 years. The article describes CASC's advantages and activities in commercial space sector, as well as outlook for CASC commercial space development. The author concludes CASC is willing to coordinate and cooperate with state-owned and private companies and will create a new pattern for commercial space, opening up a new industry for space development and achieving more splendid achievement.     

Maiden Flight of Long March 7——The New Generation Medium Launch Vehicle in China

On June 25, 2016, the Long March 7(LM-7) launch vehicle completed its maiden flight successfully. LM-7, as a new generation of medium and basic launch vehicle based on the design concepts of non-toxic and nonpolluting, was developed for the purpose of launching a cargo spacecraft to the Chinese space station. Based on the experience on launching cargo spacecraft and satellites, LM-7 can be adapted for mainstream satellite launch missions in the future with its characteristics of serialization and continuous optimization. LM-7 is expected to be used to launch manned spacecraft in the future. This paper presents a general review of LM-7 with regard to the general scheme and provides references for the development prospects of a medium launch vehicle series in China.     

Technology Improvement for the High Reliability LM-2F Launch Vehicle

The Long March 2 F(LM-2F) launch vehicle, the only launch vehicle designed for manned space flight in China, successfully launched the Tiangong 2 space laboratory and the Shenzhou 11 manned spaceship into orbits in 2016 respectively. In this study, it introduces the technological improvements for enhancing the reliability of the LM-2F launch vehicle in the aspects of general technology, control system, manufacture and ground support system. The LM-2F launch vehicle will continue to provide more contributions to the Chinese Space Station Project with its high reliability and 100% success rate.     

捷龙一号首飞（英文）

The Smart Dragon 1(SD-1) launch vehicle is the first commercial rocket developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology(CALT), targeting to the international launch market for small satellites. As the smallest launch vehicle in China at present, SD-1 is one of the most efficient solid boost rockets nationwide in terms of launch capacity. Compared with current domestic rockets, it provides remarkable access to space with a faster response, higher orbit-injection accuracy and better payload accommodation at a lower cost. On August 17, 2019, SD-1 completed its maiden flight and delivered three satellites into the desired Sun Synchronous Orbit(SSO) of 550 km accurately. In this article, a technical review of SD-1 is presented detailing the design concept and the use of state of the art technology throughout its development.     

An alternative to Hermes a solution for the European space industry

A variety of valuable roles can be foreseen during the next two decades for a reusable, piloted launch vehicle with a small payload. The authors argue that unfortunately, as currently proposed, the Hermes-Ariane 5 vehicle will not be able to fill the roles required. The authors propose a reusable aerospace transporter-a variant of Hermes - which will provide a solution and allow Europe to take the lead in developing the first fully reusable launch vehicle.     

国外运载火箭的发射失败与对策

文中介绍了国外一些运载火箭发射失败的原因分析与采取的改进措施。从大量的发射失败中可看出推进系统一直是运载火箭发射的致命弱点,而在造成失败的故障中人为因素、工艺不当又占居相当比重。采取对策的目的是确定减少未来运载火箭发射失败的关键技术与工艺。     

A cost-engineered launch vehicle for space tourism

The paper starts with a set of major requirements for a space tourism vehicle and discusses major vehicle options proposed for this purpose. It seems that the requirements can be met best with a Ballistic SSTO Vehicle which has the additional advantage of lowest development cost compared to other launch vehicle options — important for a commercial development venture.

The BETA Ballistic Reusable Vehicle Concept is characterized by the plug nozzle cluster engine configuration where the plug nozzle serves also as base plate and re-entry heat shield. In this case no athmospheric turn maneuver is required (as in case-of the front-entry Delta-Clipper DC-Y concept). In our specific case for space tourism this mode has the avantage that the forces at launch and reentry are in exactly the same direction, easing passenger seating arrangements. The second basic advantage is the large available volume on top of the vehicle providing ample space for passenger accomodation, visibility and volume for zero-g experience (free floating), one of the major passenger mission requirements. An adequate passenger cabin design for 100 passengers is presented, as well as the modern BETA-STV Concept with its mass allocations.     

航天运载器力学环境工程技术发展回顾及展望

近50年来,航天科技工作者对运载器发射飞行过程中的力学环境的认识逐步深入,带动了相关基础理论、预示方法、分析工具、试验技术和试验设备的不断发展。随着航天技术的快速发展,对运载器等的设计要求越来越高,火箭经受的力学环境也越来越恶劣,火箭力学环境预示与试验技术研究的迫切性日益突出。文章综合分析了力学环境预示与试验技术领域的研究发展状况,重点总结了北京强度环境研究所50年来为解决航天工程中的诸多力学环境问题所做的具体工作。最后,结合新时期航天项目的工程需求,提出了今后在航天运载器力学环境预示与试验技术研究领域的主要研究方向。     

A Ticket pricing strategy for an oligopolistic space tourism market

It is important for any new launch system to develop a successful pricing strategy and to optimize launch system parameters to receive a high economic profit. A question arises, what will happen when an existing suborbital flight market (the first likely to be established in space) is interfered with by a new established orbital flight market for space tourism. There is a risk that the suborbital space tourism market could be almost instantly displaced when a product capable of reaching orbit was introduced. This is best discussed using the following three cases whose results are presented in this paper. Case A presents a ticket pricing strategy for a suborbital and orbital vehicle if the two vehicles do not compete in the same market. Case B shows the necessary ticket pricing strategy for a suborbital vehicle if there is competition from an orbital flight operator. However, the suborbital vehicle would not be able to keep up with a drop in ticket prices due to its obsolete characteristics. Thus, the suborbital vehicle would be forced to stop operation in the year when flight costs became higher than flight receipts as shown in case C.     

远程自主接近轨道设计技术

对完成任务的运载火箭末级、失效卫星等空间非合作目标进行空间操作是复杂的,需要地面测控网与主动航天器的密切合作才能完成抵近及相应操作。以火箭末级残骸作为空间非合作目标,给出了远程自主接近的轨道设计方法。通过地面遥控上传的目标轨道参数,主动航天器进行自主异面机动、主动调相等多次点火,完成对非合作目标的远程接近,接近距离在50km之内,2016年6月底远征一号甲上面级的成功飞行验证了该方法和设计结果的有效性。     

中国液体运载火箭结构系统发展规划研究

结构系统是运载火箭关键系统之一,对运载效率提升具有显著作用。深入研究了国外运载火箭结构系统发展现状,根据我国运载火箭发展需求,结合我国航天发展和基础工业实际情况,从材料、结构形式、制造工艺等方面,提出了我国运载火箭结构系统重点发展方向和主要关键技术,对提升运载效率和推动航天强国建设具有重要的工程意义。     

A space exploration strategy that promotes international and commercial participation

NASA has created a plan to implement the Flexible Path strategy, which utilizes a heavy lift launch vehicle to deliver crew and cargo to orbit. In this plan, NASA would develop much of the transportation architecture (launch vehicle, crew capsule, and in-space propulsion), leaving the other in-space elements open to commercial and international partnerships. This paper presents a space exploration strategy that reverses that philosophy, where commercial and international launch vehicles provide launch services. Utilizing a propellant depot to aggregate propellant on orbit, smaller launch vehicles are capable of delivering all of the mass necessary for space exploration. This strategy has benefits to the architecture in terms of cost, schedule, and reliability.     

The 2010 US space policy: A view from Europe

The authors examine the principles, goals and guidelines in the new US NSP. While in general favourable to the overall direction of the policy, noting that Europe too has similar goals or, in some cases, should be adopting US ideas, they are sceptical about certain aspects, such as the greater emphasis on commercial partnerships with NASA and the continuing protectionist launch policy. Particular points of concern are the vagueness and lack of clear goals in the human spaceflight programme and the US position on space weaponization at the Conference on Disarmament. Nevertheless, they believe that a similar type of EU-wide policy should be developed by the European Commission.     

基于整体级概念的多级固体运载火箭设计与优化

针对多级固体运载火箭小型化需求,采用整体级概念(ISC)进行总体方案改造和优化设计.描述了2种ISC概念的特点,以某三级常规方案固体运载火箭为基准,通过利用级间的剩余空间,完成ISC方案改造.建立了运载火箭的整体级发动机动力计算模型、气动计算模型和弹道计算模型,并结合任务指标要求,提出了运载火箭的总体参数优化模型.在相同的任务条件下,完成了常规方案和2种ISC方案的优化.结果表明,引入ISC概念可将运载火箭体积缩小15%～20%,起飞总重缩小1%～1.5%,满足了总体指标要求,达到了运载火箭小型化设计目的.     

Asia in space: The awakening of China and Japan

The increasingly important role of China and Japan in international space activities can be seen as a threat to the two great space-exporting powers, the USA and Europe. China is already a competitor on the satellite launch market, and will soon be able to market satellites which are simpler and cheaper than those offered by Western industry. Japan is making steady progress towards autonomy in all fields of space technology. This article details the space experience of China and Japan. They are following different paths but both will have a strong presence in the cosmos by the year 2000.