Guangzhou’s first commercial aerospace rocket company has started constructionReusable rockets can significantly reduce the cost of entering space. On the one hand, it is an update of technology iterations, and on the other hand, it reflects cost reduction and efficiency improvement. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is also planning the first flight of a liquid rocket. "Lijian 2" is a medium-sized liquid launch vehicle under development by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It has a take-off thrust of 751 tons, an SSO carrying capacity of 7.8 tons, and a LEO carrying capacity of 12 tons. It is planned to fly for the first time in June 2025; the first mission is to The low-cost cargo spacecraft marks its entry into constellation networking and large-payload space missions.
The Lijian-2 liquid carrier rocket will make its first flight in 2025 and is scheduled to perform important launch missionsIn January 2024, China Aerospace and the Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the "Satellite Innovation Institute") held a discussion and confirmation meeting on the overall plan for the low-cost cargo transportation system of the China Space Station in Shanghai, and it was clarified that China Aerospace Lijian 2 No. 1 liquid launch vehicle launched by the Satellite Innovation Institute, a low-cost cargo spacecraft product independently developed by the Institute, will carry out its first flight mission in 2025 and undergo full-process on-orbit assessment and verification. At the same time, the first flight can also carry low-orbit Internet constellation satellites.In order to further reduce the cost of uplink cargo transportation to the space station and enhance the flexibility of uplink cargo transportation, in May 2023, the China Manned Space Engineering Office issued a solicitation announcement for the overall plan of the low-cost cargo transportation system of the China Space Station. The China Aerospace and Satellite Innovation Institute targeted China In order to meet the low-cost cargo transportation mission requirements of the space station project, we jointly carried out ship-arrow joint demonstration and key technology research, and carried out the design of the "ship-arrow-cargo" integrated space and ground transportation system, using a low-cost cargo spacecraft and the Lijian-2 liquid launch vehicle. The ship-rocket collaboration solution was successfully shortlisted in the program bidding organized by the China Manned Space Engineering Office, received support from the China Manned Space Engineering Office, and entered the detailed design stage of the program."Lijian 2" is a medium-sized liquid launch vehicle independently developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It inherits the excellent genes and advanced technology of "Lijian 1". The Lijian 2 liquid launch vehicle adopts CBC configuration and has a universal core diameter. 3.35 meters, with a total length of 53 meters, a take-off mass of 628 tons, and a take-off thrust of 766 tons. SSO has a carrying capacity of 7.8 tons, and LEO has a carrying capacity of 12 tons. It has the ability to launch into sun-synchronous orbit, low-Earth orbit, and transfer orbit. It will become my country's low-cost cargo spacecraft and satellite Internet group with large transportation capacity, high reliability, low cost, and excellent service. It is the main rocket for launching Internet and space science satellites, as well as deep space exploration missions.As the aerospace vehicle industrialization platform of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS and the Satellite Innovation Institute jointly implemented the Chinese Academy of Sciences' first joint independent satellite and rocket launch. After returning from the successful first flight, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation closely followed the launch missions of various satellite payloads of the Satellite Innovation Institute, completed the demonstration of launch plans for multiple satellites and payloads, and established a deep strategic partnership. As soon as the China Manned Space Engineering Office announced the mission, the Satellite Innovation Institute immediately started joint demonstration work with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.Facing the three core requirements of "high carrying capacity, high efficiency and low cost" for the low-cost cargo transportation system of China's space station, the development team designed the "ship-arrow-cargo" integrated space and ground transportation system, focusing on the low-orbit batch production design concept, Key technologies such as multiple means of weight reduction and quality assurance, high-intelligence-assisted packing, and fully digital design have proposed solutions for flexible configuration, high load-to-cargo ratio, efficient process, and freight guarantee, forming an ultra-cheap, ultra-fast, ultra-packaging, ultra- Five iconic achievements including safety and ultra-comfort.The low-cost cargo spacecraft launch mission planned to be carried out by the Lijian-2 liquid launch vehicle is the first time that a Chinese commercial aerospace enterprise has participated in the development and launch of a low-cost cargo transportation project for the China Space Station. It will enhance the innovative vitality and market competitiveness of my country's aerospace field. Significant. China Aerospace is a "new force" in China's commercial aerospace industry. As a platform for transforming the results of major national scientific research projects, it always adheres to the original intention of serving the country through aerospace, is guided by the major strategic needs of my country's aerospace field, and gives full play to the advantages of the new national system and mixed ownership. , continue to enhance independent innovation capabilities, accelerate research on key core technologies, further promote the innovative development of China's aerospace science, space technology, and space applications, and make new and greater contributions to improving human welfare!
China Aerospace and Galaxy Aerospace signed a launch service intention and strategic cooperation framework agreement for the first flight of Lijian 2 to jointly inject strong momentum into the innovative development of commercial aerospace.On March 13, China Aerospace and Galaxy Aerospace (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Galaxy Aerospace") held a signing ceremony for the launch service intention and strategic cooperation framework agreement for the first flight of Lijian 2 in Beijing. Yang Haoliang, Vice President of China Aerospace, Wang Yingcheng, General Manager of the Innovation Center, Gao Qianfeng, Vice President of Galaxy Aerospace, and Yang Qiaolong, Head of the Mechanical and Thermal Energy Department attended the signing ceremony and held discussions.
Lijian-2 will be the main rocket to launch the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft to the Chinese space stationAt the special press conference on the Shenzhou 19 manned spacecraft held on the morning of October 29, Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for China's manned space program, said: In 2023, the solicitation announcement for the overall plan of the low-cost cargo transportation system for the space station was released, and 4 were selected from 10 plans to enter the detailed design stage of the plan. After the second round of selection in 2024, the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft plan of the Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Haolong cargo space shuttle plan of the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China won and obtained the engineering flight verification phase contract.The Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences stated that in order to explore and develop commercial aerospace models, the Lijian-2 liquid carrier rocket of the China Science and Technology Aerospace Corporation was selected as the main rocket for the mission, which will undertake the launch mission of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft.The Lijian-2 liquid-propellant carrier rocket inherits the excellent genes of the Lijian series of carrier rockets, and has core advantages such as large carrying capacity, high inherent reliability, good economy, and flexible and convenient use. China Aerospace will take this as an opportunity to work closely and vigorously with the Microsatellite Innovation Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the spirit of manned spaceflight as the driving force and the manned spaceflight standards as the guide, to contribute to the construction of a healthy, benign and dynamic new pattern of manned spaceflight competition and development.At present, Lijian-2 has completed a number of large-scale ground tests such as noise tests, avionics system comprehensive matching tests and ignition tests, structural system static tests, first and second stage separation tests, and first stage engine identification tests as planned, and has completed the signing of the ship-rocket interface control documents. It is planned to carry out its first flight mission in September 2025, launch a cargo spacecraft in the initial state of the light boat, and carry out in-orbit test missions.
China's Manned Space Engineering Office announces major progress: Qingzhou winsQingzhou-1 adopts an integrated single-cabin configuration, with a spacious space of 27 cubic meters, an optional large-capacity refrigerator, and an auxiliary intelligent cargo transportation management system. It can also carry various test payloads, support manned or unmanned space science payloads and various on-orbit experiments. In order to explore and develop commercial aerospace models, Shanghai Gesi Information Technology Co., Ltd. is used as the manufacturer of the Qingzhou spacecraft, and the Lijian-2 of China Science and Technology Aerospace is selected as the main rocket for the mission. After receiving this mission, the Satellite Innovation Institute attached great importance to it and immediately organized a model scientific research team to immediately start project engineering research and development.Domestic commercial aerospace is in a rapid growth stage. The Qingzhou cargo system will also introduce commercial aerospace concepts, promote the rapid iteration and application of new ideas, new devices, new materials, etc. in the aerospace field, explore and carry out various business models such as naming, carrying, IP culture, popular science live broadcast, and new technology research and development, and look forward to more people in the society participating in the Qingzhou cargo system to form good economic and social benefits.
Looks like a Shenzhou orbital module has been left attached to the CSS forward port.
The first prototype of the Qingzhou spacecraft is scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2025, and the first prototype is scheduled to be ready for delivery in 2026 to carry out cargo transportation tasks for the space station.In response to the needs of the space station cargo transportation system, the Satellite Innovation Institute proposed a small, fast, and astronaut-centered Qingzhou spacecraft with "low cost, high reliability, high adaptability, and high intelligence". It also carried out a joint demonstration design of ship-rocket integration with the rocket developer China Science and Technology Aerospace, and optimized and adjusted tasks such as spacecraft cold chain transportation, in order to further reduce the cost of cargo transportation for China's space station and improve transportation efficiency.The Qingzhou spacecraft is small and light, weighing about 5 tons, with a loading volume of about 9 cubic meters, and a cargo compartment with a volume of 27 cubic meters. It adopts a four-layer shelf mode with a total of 40 cargo compartments. For special cargo needs, the Qingzhou spacecraft has reserved corresponding interfaces on the shelves, which can carry astronauts' living supplies, scientific experimental equipment, scientific payloads, etc.The Qingzhou spacecraft adopts an integrated single-cabin configuration design, which greatly reduces the external dimensions. It can improve the economy of the mission and the efficiency of space application while meeting the mission requirements, and provide astronauts with a convenient and fast operating space. At the same time, it is also easier to match and adapt to multiple types of rockets to meet the needs of rapid launch.In order to meet the needs of cold chain uplink, the Qingzhou spacecraft takes flexible configuration as the core when designing the cold chain box system. The volume of a single cold chain box is 60L, and the number can be flexibly configured according to needs, up to 300L. The temperature zone of the cold chain box can be adjusted with high precision to adapt to the different storage temperature requirements of the goods, effectively improve the reliability and stability of cold chain transportation, and meet the needs of freshness preservation.In terms of intelligent cargo management, the Qingzhou spacecraft is equipped with an intelligent cargo transportation management system that can realize intelligent identification, positioning and management of cargo. Astronauts can quickly find the required items through voice interaction and other methods, which improves the efficiency of cargo pickup and delivery, reduces the workload and reduces the possibility of errors.The Qingzhou spacecraft has a variety of transportation capabilities. It can not only transport astronauts' daily necessities, scientific experimental equipment and other conventional goods, but also carry various test payloads, support manned or unmanned space science payloads and various on-orbit experiments, and meet the needs of diverse missions.The Qingzhou spacecraft also introduced the concept and technical means of commercial aerospace. For example, the first use of the business model of cargo transportation system overall management can combine the transportation and the spacecraft more closely and achieve the overall optimization design of the system. It has the ability to explore various business models for cooperative innovation, which can form good economic and social benefits. Web link close
The first-stage power system test of Lijian-2 was a complete success. The China Aerospace Liquid Power System Test Center was fully completed and passed the test assessmentOn June 11, the first-stage power system test of Lijian-2 liquid launcher was carried out at the China Aerospace Liquid Power System Test Center, and the test mission was a complete success. This test is one of the major landmark ground tests in the development stage of the Lijian-2 project. It fully verified the key technologies of Lijian-2, laid a solid power foundation for the first flight of the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft, and ensured the reliability and stability of the rocket flight.As the ground test with the most systems, the most complex states, and the greatest difficulty in the rocket development process, the power system test is an important basis for ensuring the success of the rocket's first flight. During the test, the engine started, swung, and shut down according to the predetermined program. The system worked normally, and the test time covered the flight mission profile. This test run fully verified the coordination and matching between the rocket's first-stage pressurization and delivery system and the engine system, as well as the correctness of the system interfaces such as power, structure, avionics, and launch support, and achieved effective assessment of technologies such as propellant filling and discharge process, multi-machine parallel cycle precooling, and thermal environment characteristics, marking that the key technologies of the first-stage power system of the Lijian-2 liquid launcher have achieved phased results and have entered the sprint stage of the first flight.It is worth mentioning that this test run was carried out at the China Science and Technology Aerospace Liquid Power System Test Center located in Aotou Town, Conghua District, Guangzhou. The successful test run marks the full completion of the test center and passed the test run assessment. As a large-scale and fully functional large-scale liquid power system test base in China, the test center has the ability to conduct professional tests on 200-ton liquid rocket engines and comprehensive tests on 400-ton power systems to meet the needs of mass production and power research and development test verification, which is crucial to the development of key technologies for commercial rocket recovery. The test center is located in the core area of Conghua District, Guangzhou, and is listed as a key project of Guangdong Province in 2023. Its efficient implementation and rapid commissioning are inseparable from the high attention and support given by government departments in terms of policies and resources.The China Aerospace Liquid Propulsion System Test Center is the only test institution in China that has the ability to test both liquid engines and rocket propulsion systems. It is also the only liquid launch vehicle propulsion system and liquid engine test center in South China. We will open to global scientific research institutions, universities, and enterprises based on the principles of cutting-edge and sharing, and help the world's aerospace progress and China's aerospace to move towards world-class levels.In addition, the technical preparation plant of the China Aerospace Launch Site and the dedicated launch station for the Lijian-2 liquid launch vehicle will also be completed, accepted, and put into use in the near future. As the first comprehensive, multifunctional, and universal plant in China that uses both solid and liquid rockets and both satellites and rockets, it can realize the integrated mode of "launching at the factory", with the characteristics of batch storage, rapid response, and rolling backup, which greatly shortens the rocket launch preparation cycle and fully guarantees the efficient execution of the launch mission. At the same time, after the Lijian-2 large-scale liquid launch vehicle super factory under construction is officially put into use, it will vigorously promote the industrialization and large-scale production of Lijian-2, help build a complete liquid rocket production chain and supply chain, and further reduce the cost of rocket launches.From the independent development of 100-ton pintle-type reusable engines and the independent construction of power system test benches to the development, production, testing, assembly and testing of liquid rockets, China Science and Technology Aerospace has always been guided by serving the national strategy, adhering to the development concept of market-driven and customer-oriented, and providing large-capacity, low-cost, and high-frequency launch services for the global market. As the first flight of Lijian-2 enters the countdown, this model will not only be the main rocket for large-scale constellation network launches and low-cost cargo transportation for space stations in the future, but will also further reduce the cost of cargo transportation for China's space station, and continue to inject new momentum into the development of global aerospace transportation technology.
Development progress | The Static-fire of the second-stage propulsion system of Lijian-2 was a complete successRecently, the Static-fire of the second-stage propulsion system of the Lijian-2 liquid carrier rocket was carried out at the CAS Space Liquid Power System Test Center, and the test run mission was a complete success. This static fire is another major ground test before the Lijian-2 enters the flight test phase, marking that all large-scale ground tests of the propulsion system in the development phase of the Lijian-2 project have been successfully completed, and the conditions for entering the flight test phase have been met.PictureThe filling and ignition sequence of this test run completely simulates the flight test conditions. Before the engine ignition, it has successively experienced kerosene filling, supercooled liquid oxygen filling, pre-launch pressurization and pre-cooling, and simulated first-stage flight segments. The power system completed the first ignition, shutdown, taxiing, secondary ignition, shutdown and other actions according to the predetermined procedure. During the ignition process, the engine swayed in both directions, and the working conditions covered the flight mission profile. The parameters of each system changed steadily and were within the expected deviation range. The inspection after the test run showed that the rocket body structure was intact and the pressurization and delivery system had good air tightness.The successful test run fully verified the coordination and matching of the interfaces between the power, structure, avionics and other systems on the second stage of the rocket, effectively assessed the supercooled liquid oxygen filling and discharge process, intermittent discharge precooling, and secondary start-up of the power system, and obtained more accurate thermal and mechanical environmental data.
