May 19, 2014 at 22:57History of Chinese Cosmonautics
Actually, I got a smartphone in my hands that fully supports navigation using the Chinese navigation system 北斗 （Ursa Major). These smartphones should enter the market in mid-late 2014, but that is not the point.
I thought about how this system works, who and what put these satellites into orbit, and decided to write a brief overview of the history of the development of Chinese space exploration. Who cares - welcome to cat. A lot of heavy photos.
Why is Chinese cosmonautics called taikonautics? Do not worry, the people of Thailand and Taiwan have nothing to do with it. It’s just that in Chinese, space sounds like 太空 (Taikong), which means “Too empty”.
The date of birth of the Chinese cosmonautics can be considered November 16, 1957. That day was founded中国 运载火箭 技术 研究院 (Chinese Research Institute for Booster Issues) .
Then, of course, he looked a little different.
The first spaceport was built a year later - in October 1958. They called it 酒泉 卫星 发射 中心 (Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center), it is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region near the city of the same name 酒泉 （Jiuquan), which, incidentally, is located in the neighboring province of 甘肃 （Gansu). Area - 2800 square kilometers.
It was from this cosmodrome that on November 5, 1960, the first rocket was launched. True, the goals of this missile were far from peaceful. 东风 一号 (East Wind-1) was the first short-range ballistic missile made in China (up to 1000 km). Now its layout is stored in the PLA Museum.
Therefore, nevertheless, some people consider the birthday of Tykonautics to be April 24, 1970. On this day, the first peaceful satellite made in China was launched from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome - 东方 红 一号 （Red East-1)
The launch vehicle was 长征 一号 (Great Campaign-1), the first launch vehicle made in China. In total, two modifications were released CZ-1 and CZ1-D. The second series was distinguished from the first by a slightly reduced length and increased payload, which it was able to put into orbit. A three-stage layout was used.
According to some reports, the first launch with the satellite of the same name was carried out a year earlier - November 16, 1969, but failed. There is no such information in official sources.
A new modification of the CZ-2 launch vehicle family was first launched on November 5, 1974. Due to a wire break in the control system, the rocket lost its orientation in space and fell to the ground.
Work was carried out on the rocket, and its new modification CZ-2C F-01 on November 26, 1975, successfully launched into orbit China’s first satellite, which then successfully landed on Earth.
CZ-2 launch vehicles in various modifications are still being produced. These are lightweight units capable of putting into orbit a cargo weighing 3850 kg into low Earth orbit and 1250 kg into a geo-transition orbit.
The following successful launches were carried out in 1976, 1978, 1982 and 1983. All these were satellites, which then returned to Earth.
January 29, 1984, another failure occurred. At the first real launch of a new modification of the CZ-3 rocket carried by the satellite 东方 红 二号 （Krasny Vostok-2), due to unidentified interference, the third stage of the rocket did not enter the planned orbit.
After that, an average of two to three launches per year took place. Two new spaceports were built, and the launch vehicle family was systematically improved.
On April 7, 1990, a momentous event occurred - the 亚星 一号 satellite ("Star of Asia -1") was launched - the first commercial satellite in China, built for foreign partners. That is, from this moment on, tykonavtika began to bring money to the country's budget. After this incident, more and more countries began to use the services of China - from Thailand to Brazil.
On November 20, 1999, a new landmark event occurred - the first unmanned aerial vehicle 神舟 一号 (Heavenly Boat-1) was developed and launched. The launch vehicle was still the same "Great Campaign", but new modifications
On May 25, 2003, another milestone was passed - the first satellite of the 北斗 一号 navigation system (Ursa Major-1) was launched.
On October 15, 2003, the first Chinese cosmonaut - 杨利伟 (Yang Li Wei) was celebrated in space.
The number of launches increased from year to year. If in 2006 there were 6 launches, then in 2007 there were already 10, in 2008 - 11, in 2010 - 15, 2011 and 2012 - to 19.
On October 24, 2007 the first Chinese moon satellite 嫦娥 一号 ( Moon Fairy-1)
On September 27, 2008, the first taikonaut went into open space. His name was 翟志刚 (Zhai Zhigang). The flight took place on 神舟 七号 (Heavenly boat-7)
on October 1, 2010, the second moon satellite was launched.
On June 18, 2012, the first female tyconaut - 刘洋 （Liu Yang) visited space
And since 2012, the Chinese Space Agency has realized that space needs to be promoted. Only recently has it become possible to find photographs \ videos \ texts about tyconauts and space projects on the Web.
Managed all from 北京 航天 飞行 控制 中心 (Beijing Mission Control Center).
People enjoy success. Only recently, photo-video shooting was allowed in the MCC premises.
Chinese President Hu Jintao congratulates the crew of the ship 神舟 九号 （Sky Boat-9).
The presence of media at the landing sites of modules and ships is allowed.
Media presence allowed at spaceports
Video talks are being held with the crews of the space station live.
The latest launch to date has been held March 31, 2014. Altogether, according to official data, 189 launches occurred, of which 8 ended in failure, and 1 in partial failure. To date, there are three cosmodromes in the PRC - 太原 （Taiyuan), 酒泉 （Jiuquan) and 西昌 （Xichang).
The rocket carrier family consists of several models - from ultralight CZ-2 to superheavy CZ-9, which will bring up to 130 tons into low orbit and up to 50 tons into geostationary orbit.
There is its own space station in orbit, which has already been visited by several dozen tyconauts. The second model is preparing for launch, after which the first will be decommissioned.
Phones with support for the Chinese navigation system 北斗 二号 （Ursa Major-2) will enter the market by 2015, and by 2020 satellites of this system will serve the entire territory of the Earth.
In general, we continue to follow with interest ...
I did not mention the moon rover - there is enough information about it in the Russian-language segment of the Internet.
Thank you all for your attention. I hope it was interesting.
Interesting links:
Chic presentation about the state of taikonautics for 2012 Launch
history of Chinese spacecraft
Chinese space agency
Chinese research institute for launch vehicles
I thought about how this system works, who and what put these satellites into orbit, and decided to write a brief overview of the history of the development of Chinese space exploration. Who cares - welcome to cat. A lot of heavy photos.
Why is Chinese cosmonautics called taikonautics? Do not worry, the people of Thailand and Taiwan have nothing to do with it. It’s just that in Chinese, space sounds like 太空 (Taikong), which means “Too empty”.
The date of birth of the Chinese cosmonautics can be considered November 16, 1957. That day was founded中国 运载火箭 技术 研究院 (Chinese Research Institute for Booster Issues) .
Then, of course, he looked a little different.
Chinese Research Institute for Boosters
The first spaceport was built a year later - in October 1958. They called it 酒泉 卫星 发射 中心 (Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center), it is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region near the city of the same name 酒泉 （Jiuquan), which, incidentally, is located in the neighboring province of 甘肃 （Gansu). Area - 2800 square kilometers.
Jiquan launch pad launch pad
It was from this cosmodrome that on November 5, 1960, the first rocket was launched. True, the goals of this missile were far from peaceful. 东风 一号 (East Wind-1) was the first short-range ballistic missile made in China (up to 1000 km). Now its layout is stored in the PLA Museum.
The East Wind-1 rocket before launch
Therefore, nevertheless, some people consider the birthday of Tykonautics to be April 24, 1970. On this day, the first peaceful satellite made in China was launched from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome - 东方 红 一号 （Red East-1)
Postcard of China Post with the Red East-1 satellite depicted on it
The launch vehicle was 长征 一号 (Great Campaign-1), the first launch vehicle made in China. In total, two modifications were released CZ-1 and CZ1-D. The second series was distinguished from the first by a slightly reduced length and increased payload, which it was able to put into orbit. A three-stage layout was used.
According to some reports, the first launch with the satellite of the same name was carried out a year earlier - November 16, 1969, but failed. There is no such information in official sources.
Launch vehicle 长征 一号 (Great Campaign-1) with the satellite 东方 红 一号 (Red East-1) at the Jiuquan Cosmodrome.
A new modification of the CZ-2 launch vehicle family was first launched on November 5, 1974. Due to a wire break in the control system, the rocket lost its orientation in space and fell to the ground.
The Great Campaign 2 missile after takeoff and a few seconds before the fall
Work was carried out on the rocket, and its new modification CZ-2C F-01 on November 26, 1975, successfully launched into orbit China’s first satellite, which then successfully landed on Earth.
Satellite landing
CZ-2 launch vehicles in various modifications are still being produced. These are lightweight units capable of putting into orbit a cargo weighing 3850 kg into low Earth orbit and 1250 kg into a geo-transition orbit.
The following successful launches were carried out in 1976, 1978, 1982 and 1983. All these were satellites, which then returned to Earth.
January 29, 1984, another failure occurred. At the first real launch of a new modification of the CZ-3 rocket carried by the satellite 东方 红 二号 （Krasny Vostok-2), due to unidentified interference, the third stage of the rocket did not enter the planned orbit.
After that, an average of two to three launches per year took place. Two new spaceports were built, and the launch vehicle family was systematically improved.
On April 7, 1990, a momentous event occurred - the 亚星 一号 satellite ("Star of Asia -1") was launched - the first commercial satellite in China, built for foreign partners. That is, from this moment on, tykonavtika began to bring money to the country's budget. After this incident, more and more countries began to use the services of China - from Thailand to Brazil.
Even newspapers wrote about this -)
On November 20, 1999, a new landmark event occurred - the first unmanned aerial vehicle 神舟 一号 (Heavenly Boat-1) was developed and launched. The launch vehicle was still the same "Great Campaign", but new modifications
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 神舟 一号 (Sky Boat-1)
On May 25, 2003, another milestone was passed - the first satellite of the 北斗 一号 navigation system (Ursa Major-1) was launched.
On October 15, 2003, the first Chinese cosmonaut - 杨利伟 (Yang Li Wei) was celebrated in space.
The number of launches increased from year to year. If in 2006 there were 6 launches, then in 2007 there were already 10, in 2008 - 11, in 2010 - 15, 2011 and 2012 - to 19.
On October 24, 2007 the first Chinese moon satellite 嫦娥 一号 ( Moon Fairy-1)
On September 27, 2008, the first taikonaut went into open space. His name was 翟志刚 (Zhai Zhigang). The flight took place on 神舟 七号 (Heavenly boat-7)
on October 1, 2010, the second moon satellite was launched.
On June 18, 2012, the first female tyconaut - 刘洋 （Liu Yang) visited space
And since 2012, the Chinese Space Agency has realized that space needs to be promoted. Only recently has it become possible to find photographs \ videos \ texts about tyconauts and space projects on the Web.
Managed all from 北京 航天 飞行 控制 中心 (Beijing Mission Control Center).
People enjoy success. Only recently, photo-video shooting was allowed in the MCC premises.
Beijing MCC employees rejoice at the successful launch of the 天宫 一号 (Sky Palace 1) orbital station
Chinese President Hu Jintao congratulates the crew of the ship 神舟 九号 （Sky Boat-9).
June 26, 2012
The presence of media at the landing sites of modules and ships is allowed.
June 29, 2012
Media presence allowed at spaceports
June 11, 2013
Video talks are being held with the crews of the space station live.
The latest launch to date has been held March 31, 2014. Altogether, according to official data, 189 launches occurred, of which 8 ended in failure, and 1 in partial failure. To date, there are three cosmodromes in the PRC - 太原 （Taiyuan), 酒泉 （Jiuquan) and 西昌 （Xichang).
The rocket carrier family consists of several models - from ultralight CZ-2 to superheavy CZ-9, which will bring up to 130 tons into low orbit and up to 50 tons into geostationary orbit.
There is its own space station in orbit, which has already been visited by several dozen tyconauts. The second model is preparing for launch, after which the first will be decommissioned.
Chinese Orbital Space Station 天宫 一号 (Heavenly Palace-1)
Phones with support for the Chinese navigation system 北斗 二号 （Ursa Major-2) will enter the market by 2015, and by 2020 satellites of this system will serve the entire territory of the Earth.
In general, we continue to follow with interest ...
I did not mention the moon rover - there is enough information about it in the Russian-language segment of the Internet.
Thank you all for your attention. I hope it was interesting.
Interesting links:
Chic presentation about the state of taikonautics for 2012 Launch
history of Chinese spacecraft
Chinese space agency
Chinese research institute for launch vehicles