NASASpaceFlight.com Forum

International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Chinese Launchers => Topic started by: Saltvann on 01/12/2015 01:36 pm

Title: China's first private spacecraft set to fly in 2015
Post by: Saltvann on 01/12/2015 01:36 pm
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150111000032&cid=1202

(http://www.wantchinatimes.com/newsphoto/2015-01-11/450/spaceshuttle-113144_copy1.jpg)

(http://www.wantchinatimes.com/newsphoto/2015-01-11/250/spaceshuttle2-113156_copy1.jpg)

Only reaches a height of 40km though...
Title: Re: China's first private spacecraft set to fly in 2015
Post by: bad_astra on 01/12/2015 03:34 pm
not really a spacecraft then
Title: Re: China's first private spacecraft set to fly in 2015
Post by: TrevorMonty on 01/12/2015 03:45 pm
Nice to see another private suborbital/space project. 
There is no shortage of billionaires in China to finance this type of project so money shouldn't be a problem.
If it is successful then we may yet see a Chinese private orbital LV company.

Title: Re: China's first private spacecraft set to fly in 2015
Post by: RonM on 01/12/2015 03:47 pm
The article has an interesting typo.

Quote
The project proposes to carry passengers in a giant helium balloon-driven spaceship to 40,000 km above the ground, bordering the thin blue line before crossing into space.

40,000 km is definitely in space. Of course, they meant 40,000 m.

That's not high enough for space, but I bet it will be great experience.
Title: Re: China's first private spacecraft set to fly in 2015
Post by: Saltvann on 01/12/2015 03:51 pm
not really a spacecraft then
I agree and think so too, but that's what the article said so I just reposted the title.
Title: Re: China's first private spacecraft set to fly in 2015
Post by: RonM on 01/12/2015 04:00 pm
You can say it is a "near space" craft. Even though it does not reach even the lowest definition of outer space, it will be about twice as high as the Armstrong line. If you are above the Armstrong line, you better be in a spacesuit or something built like a spacecraft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_space#Boundary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_space#Boundary)
Title: Re: China's first private spacecraft set to fly in 2015
Post by: savuporo on 01/12/2015 04:27 pm
Felix Baumgartner is interested .. why does the artist impression show little rockets, though ?
Quote
They will also experience a brief loss of gravity.
Not in a balloon carried one, they wont, so something is off in this reporting.. Can we get links back to the original Chinese articles at Tencent, please ?