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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
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