A review of China’s space program
Link here. The article covers China’s achievements in ’21, then reviews the status of its rocket development program. The key quote to me however was this, describing the upcoming plans for the assembly of China’s space station:
In 2022, China is expected to launch two more crew rotations to the Tiangong station using its Shenzhou spacecraft. The first, Shenzhou 14, is expected in May, while the second one will launch in November. Both missions will launch aboard Chang Zheng [Long March] 2F/G rockets. Two more modules for the space station are also planned to launch in the course of the year.
These new modules are the laboratory cabin modules (LCMs). The first is named Wentian, meaning Quest for the Heavens, while the second is Mengtian, or Dreaming of the Heavens. Both will launch on Chang Zheng 5B rockets, with Wentian currently scheduled to lift off in May or June, with Mengtian planned to launch in August or September.
This means that — assuming China has not reworked the design of its Long March 5B rocket — a large out-of-control core stage will be crashing to Earth in the the spring and late summer.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
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You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Link here. The article covers China’s achievements in ’21, then reviews the status of its rocket development program. The key quote to me however was this, describing the upcoming plans for the assembly of China’s space station:
In 2022, China is expected to launch two more crew rotations to the Tiangong station using its Shenzhou spacecraft. The first, Shenzhou 14, is expected in May, while the second one will launch in November. Both missions will launch aboard Chang Zheng [Long March] 2F/G rockets. Two more modules for the space station are also planned to launch in the course of the year.
These new modules are the laboratory cabin modules (LCMs). The first is named Wentian, meaning Quest for the Heavens, while the second is Mengtian, or Dreaming of the Heavens. Both will launch on Chang Zheng 5B rockets, with Wentian currently scheduled to lift off in May or June, with Mengtian planned to launch in August or September.
This means that — assuming China has not reworked the design of its Long March 5B rocket — a large out-of-control core stage will be crashing to Earth in the the spring and late summer.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Bob,
Have you yet detected any clues to an actual launch of this hypersonic missile. I keep seeing references on other sites and all they use for proof is that the DOD says it tracked the missile. No verification from anyone else. I point out that you have seen no independently verified confirmation of that launch. It seems to baffle some that we can’t accept DOD’s word on faith.
This is going to be fun to watch.?
Gary: I have yet to come across any confirmed evidence anywhere that this launch happened. Period.
To Gary
It could be the ability to verify and event is a giveaway as to your location to observe said event…a way to reveal capability that amounts to a give-away of assets.
I know, that sounds like a “just so” tale and obfuscation…but read how even KH-11 (Hubble turned inward) wasn’t a high priority—Dwayne Day has excellent articles on how space advocates weren’t listened to…while fighter jocks in the USAF and the USN got blank checks.
Interesting article, especially the last section dealing with iSpace’s SQX-3 rocket and variants, which looks like a copy of the Falcon-9, the Falcon Heavy, and a four booster variant of the Falcon Heavy (Super Heavy?). Once change though, they are using liquid methane for the first stage and not kerosene like the Merlin. Are they trying to make a copy the Raptor which uses methane?
They are looking at everything. Ming Han Tang (who worked on the M2F2 and YF-12 concepts) was looking at hypersonic craft with engines in the sides. Now, recent clickbait stories have images of the X-47 stealth drone…but I don’t think that is accurate. Remember Ron Miller’s book THE DREAM MACHINES? He had belly to belly spaceplanes atop Proton. Kosmos 881 and 882 were actually long-stem VA capsules with retrorockets and the escape tower in the same “stem” atop the craft. Two were launched atop each other on a Proton (spacers in the shroud/fairing.)
Remember, ISS’ Zvezda, the Mir core block and Salyut started off as a Soviet MOL…Almaz..which had that cannon. Well instead of Gemini, they had that Stabilio like long stem capsule with a hatch through the heatshield. That was abandoned with a Soyuz/Progress docking port in its place. People often think the Nedelin disaster, N-1 explosions were the same. Early on, a German magazine had concept art depicting Buran as a lifting body, seeing as they had launched a small such craft…which may also have inspired Dream Chaser…but there was also Buran shaped BOR types, not just the 50/50 Spiral. Pentagon papers notwithstanding, I do think US military space advocates are spooked and it is NOT just a lie to seek funding. Space advocates HAVE been underfunded by liberals who want social programs and libertarians who want tax cuts.
If you are an engineer…get used to the left and right both telling you “no”—-just for different reasons. That bi-partisan stupidity gave us Katrina. When engineers asked for money…both parties shut them down…then the politicos blamed the floods on the very engineers they ignored.
DON’T LOOK UP