Tag: Long March 5

China Enters the Big Leagues With Maiden Flight of Massive New Rocket

China Enters the Big Leagues With Maiden Flight of Massive New Rocket

China has taken a major step forward in advancing its space ambitions with the maiden flight of its Long March 5 heavy lift booster. Liftoff of the all liquid fueled rocket took place from China’s Wenchang Satellite Launch Center located on Hainan Island. As with most Chinese launches, and any that carry the potential of […]

Posted in: Chinese space
China Debuts Its New Rocket, Launch Center, and Prototype Crew Capsule

China Debuts Its New Rocket, Launch Center, and Prototype Crew Capsule

China has taken a great leap forward in advancing its space ambitions with the successful Saturday night debut of its all new, kerosene/liquid oxygen fueled Long March 7 rocket. The 13.5 ton to LEO EELV class rocket, roughly comparable to the Atlas V and Falcon 9, is intended to be the workhorse booster for supporting […]

China Joins the Kerosene Club with New Rocket Launch

China Joins the Kerosene Club with New Rocket Launch

Until late last week, China’s most impressive space achievements have been carried out with relatively primitive, hypergolic fueled launch vehicles. On Friday however, China marked the debut of the first of a new series of boosters which while still carrying the Long March designation, are designed to bring that nation’s boost capabilities on par with […]

Viewing National Space Investments From a NewSpace Perspective

Viewing National Space Investments From a NewSpace Perspective

Vostochny Under Construction. Image Credit The Moscow Times One question which defines the NewSpace movement, is which individuals, companies, or governments are investing in technologies or systems which have the capacity to significantly reduce the cost of access to space. In the case of the latter, governments, all too often it is just as easy […]

China Launches Communications Satellite

China Launches Communications Satellite

Source:  Xinhuanet China conducted its second launch of the year yesterday, only a week after it kicked off its 2013 flight campaign. Yesterday’s launch from the Xichang Launch Center in Sichuan Province was carried out by a Long March-3B booster and carried the Zhongxing-11 communication’s satellite to orbit. The 3B is a three stage booster consisting of hypergolical fueled first […]

Getting to Space : Looking Ahead in 2013

Getting to Space : Looking Ahead in 2013

As spaceship Earth embarks on another trip around the Sun,  it’s an appropriate occasion to take a look ahead at the New Year and consider what developments might take place which could change the fundamental cost basis of reaching orbit. Suborbital Space:  After seemingly  endless delays, 2013 is poised to be the breakout year for the reusable suborbital launch industry.  (but […]

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