NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Chinese Launchers => Topic started by: beidou on 01/24/2016 09:47 am
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People familiar with this matter disclosed a launch date is on June 26th (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=13078&pid=453711&fromuid=24484), 2016.
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The launch of the first CZ-7 in June will test China’s next-generation human spacecraft.
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The launch of the first CZ-7 in June will test China’s next-generation human spacecraft.
See http://gbtimes.com/china/maiden-long-march-7-flight-test-chinas-next-gen-human-spacecraft
Return module with a partly fueled or down-sized service module test?
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The launch of the first CZ-7 in June will test China’s next-generation human spacecraft.
Do you know if the human spacecraft will be a boilerplate simulator or an actual prototype with internal systems?
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The launch of the first CZ-7 in June will test China’s next-generation human spacecraft.
Do you know if the human spacecraft will be a boilerplate simulator or an actual prototype with internal systems?
i understand it as EFT-1 like.
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Yuanwang-21 transport ship with the first CZ-7 arrived at the Qinglangang bay serving Wenchang Space Launch Center on May 14th.
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Long March-7 carrier rocket arrives at launch base (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/14/c_135359184.htm).
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China's new launch center prepares for maiden mission (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-05/16/c_135363620.htm).
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According to chinaspaceflight.com (http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-7/CZ7-first-launch.html), the inaugural launch of the CZ-7 launch vehicle will take place at around 15:00 local time on June 27, 2016 (07:00UTC - June 27).
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From Chinese friends, who are preparing philatelic commemorating envelopes for the upcoming CZ-7 maiden flight I learned, that landing of the return module is planned near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
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This means that the new generation descent module will have an orbital flight, not a sub-orbital one as some have speculated.
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This means that the new generation descent module will have an orbital flight, not a sub-orbital one as some have speculated.
yes it was stated in a different thread that it would be most like USA's EFT-1 mission.
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The spacecraft is being recovered on land, although water recovery has been proposed for the operational version. I wonder if it has any cushioning mechanism (air bags, landing rockets) or is just going to plop down. Maybe they will decide to stick with land recovery, which would reduce costs.
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Assembly of launch vehicle has been completed. The launcher is now undergoing testing before transport to the launch complex.
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新一代运载火箭长征七号将在6月25日19：30根据当天气象条件海南文昌航天发射中心首发。
latest news :maiden flight of CZ-7 will be around 19:30(UTC+8), on June 25,2016
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What are the chances that there will be live launch coverage?
(It's the maiden launch of CZ-7 and the premiere launch from WSLC.)
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What are the chances that there will be live launch coverage?
(It's the maiden launch of CZ-7 and the premiere launch from WSLC.)
There are two chances. None and Buckley's.
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There are two chances. None and Buckley's.
Thanks, I thought so.
By the way, I've learned a new expression today (http://andc.anu.edu.au/ozwords/Oct%202000/Buckley's.html)--all thanks to you and this forum!
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新一代运载火箭长征七号将在6月25日19：30根据当天气象条件海南文昌航天发射中心首发。
latest news :maiden flight of CZ-7 will be around 19:30(UTC+8), on June 25,2016
Well it seems that the launch date (and especially the time) isn't nailed down with certainty so take them with a grain of salt.
In any case the state TV news channel have released some payload mate footage today so rollout should be coming soon. Now since many of the payloads aren't confirmed I need to look for clues on what they could be.... :-X
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新一代运载火箭长征七号将在6月25日19：30根据当天气象条件海南文昌航天发射中心首发。
latest news :maiden flight of CZ-7 will be around 19:30(UTC+8), on June 25,2016
Well it seems that the launch date (and especially the time) isn't nailed down with certainty so take them with a grain of salt.
In any case the state TV news channel have released some payload mate footage today so rollout should be coming soon. Now since many of the payloads aren't confirmed I need to look for clues on what they could be.... :-X
Well letters CMS are on the english side of the fairing.
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新一代运载火箭长征七号将在6月25日19：30根据当天气象条件海南文昌航天发射中心首发。
latest news :maiden flight of CZ-7 will be around 19:30(UTC+8), on June 25,2016
Well it seems that the launch date (and especially the time) isn't nailed down with certainty so take them with a grain of salt.
In any case the state TV news channel have released some payload mate footage today so rollout should be coming soon. Now since many of the payloads aren't confirmed I need to look for clues on what they could be.... :-X
Well letters CMS are on the english side of the fairing.
It has the China Manned Spaceflight program marking because the baseline LM-7 version is tailored for supporting logistics of the future space station and so this flight falls into CMS' umbrella. However the things on top (including the upper stage, except for the boilerplate capsule) aren't really linked to the program. :-X
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I have seen the next generation manned spacecraft (NGMS) being flown on the maiden CZ-7 mission described as a "boilerplate". For that description I automatically think of the boilerplate Apollos carried on the later Saturn-1 missions which were not functioning spacecraft. On the other hand the NGMS will be recovered, so that indicates a reasonable amount of functionality of the vehicle. Under these circumstances, is it accurate to refer to the CZ-7 payload as a boilerplate?
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I have just seen unconfirmed reports that the rocket will roll out to the pad tomorrow. ;)
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I have seen the next generation manned spacecraft (NGMS) being flown on the maiden CZ-7 mission described as a "boilerplate". For that description I automatically think of the boilerplate Apollos carried on the later Saturn-1 missions which were not functioning spacecraft. On the other hand the NGMS will be recovered, so that indicates a reasonable amount of functionality of the vehicle. Under these circumstances, is it accurate to refer to the CZ-7 payload as a boilerplate?
Yes, I think I should use "prototype capsule" instead if it can really come back to Earth (as with everything Chinese, this isn't really certain), or else I should call the COTS-1 Dragon a boilerplate too. ;)
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I have just seen unconfirmed reports that the rocket will roll out to the pad tomorrow. ;)
...and apparently this has been delayed by one day due to heavy rain. ;)
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It's rolling! ;)
(photos from the Weibo account of CCTV's news channel)
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Oh and an official launch period of 25 - 29 June has been announced. ;)
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....and it has now reached the pad.
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This may or may not be a live broadcast of the launch...
http://v.qq.com/live/p/topic/7569/preview.html
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ALERT! High-res photos inbound.... ;)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpOOxhT7hJE
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This this new complex considered a new "spaceport", or a brand new "launch center".
I'm sure this has much pride for the country.
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This this new complex considered a new "spaceport", or a brand new "launch center".
I'm sure this has much pride for the country.
It is a huge accomplishment, and a precursor to even more impressive ones. They have gained a great GTO launch site, they have what looks like a mostly civil space base. It is also the home base of new ecologically friendly and higher performance rocket family. It also enables them to solve the drop zones problem. I know that I would be extremely proud of this center. And they probably are, with very good causes.
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CZ-7 moved from the east VAB to the east launch pad. Does this pad have an official name? For now I'm calling it the CZ-7 or East launch complex.
- Ed Kyle
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CZ-7 moved from the east VAB to the east launch pad. Does this pad have an official name? For now I'm calling it the CZ-7 or East launch complex.
- Ed Kyle
If I remember correctly the buildings of the CZ-7 pad are given numbers in the 2XX series (those for CZ-5 are numbered 1XX). This would indicate that it would be "LC-2" although I have yet to see this name explicitly written out. ;)
Lemme check the Chinese sources to see if there are more clues.... ;)
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CZ-7 moved from the east VAB to the east launch pad. Does this pad have an official name? For now I'm calling it the CZ-7 or East launch complex.
- Ed Kyle
If I remember correctly the buildings of the CZ-7 pad are given numbers in the 2XX series (those for CZ-5 are numbered 1XX). This would indicate that it would be "LC-2" although I have yet to see this name explicitly written out. ;)
Lemme check the Chinese sources to see if there are more clues.... ;)
officially from elsewhere on NSF I find
CZ-5 Family - WSLC, LC101
CZ-6 Family - WSLC, LC??? (Given that there are visibly stub tracks and stub switches in the hires photos, I assume that CZ-6 might have its own VAB and pad LC-301 in the future unless they have launch mount adapters for the existing Mobile Launchers.)
CZ-7 Family - WSLC, LC201
All other next gen launcher plans at WSLC are currently unknown. However, given that there are visibly stub tracks and stub switches in the hires photos, I assume that the other planned next gen launcher families might have there own VAB and pad too.
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CZ-7 moved from the east VAB to the east launch pad. Does this pad have an official name? For now I'm calling it the CZ-7 or East launch complex.
- Ed Kyle
pad 201
while“pad 101” for Long march 5
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CZ-7 moved from the east VAB to the east launch pad. Does this pad have an official name? For now I'm calling it the CZ-7 or East launch complex.
- Ed Kyle
pad 201
while“pad 101” for Long march 5
this info has already been posted.
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CZ-7 moved from the east VAB to the east launch pad. Does this pad have an official name? For now I'm calling it the CZ-7 or East launch complex.
- Ed Kyle
pad 201
while“pad 101” for Long march 5
this info has already been posted.
Yes, many months ago...
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Well, an insider who has been very accurate on previous Chinese spaceflight news on Weibo said that (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=13078&pid=475588) the launch time is 12:00 UTC on the 25th, so it looks like the previous info is more or less right. ;)
(that will mean this is a night launch about 45 minutes after sunset)
Apparently I missed out on noticing that (http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-7/CZ7-first-launch.html) there are 5 payloads on board as leaked out on a TV news report back in April - the prototype capsule (no name given), Aoxiang-1, a block of ballast and two other small satellites called "ADRV" and "BPV" whose identity isn't known (another official source (http://www.81.cn/jwgz/2016-04/22/content_7019148_2.htm) confirms 5 thingies on board but didn't name them).
I don't know if this point has been made explicitly here before, but it's worth mentioning again that the YZ-1 upper stage is flying on this flight - and it looks like that it will have a 4 burn complex mission this time.
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CZ-7 moved from the east VAB to the east launch pad. Does this pad have an official name? For now I'm calling it the CZ-7 or East launch complex.
- Ed Kyle
pad 201
while“pad 101” for Long march 5
this info has already been posted.
Yes, many months ago...
I couldn't find it in the "Wenchang" thread.
- Ed Kyle
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Well, an insider who has been very accurate on previous Chinese spaceflight news on Weibo said that (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=13078&pid=475588) the launch time is 12:00 UTC on the 25th, so it looks like the previous info is more or less right. ;)
(that will mean this is a night launch about 45 minutes after sunset)
Apparently I missed out on noticing that (http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-7/CZ7-first-launch.html) there are 5 payloads on board as leaked out on a TV news report back in April - the prototype capsule (no name given), Aoxiang-1, a block of ballast and two other small satellites called "ADRV" and "BPV" whose identity isn't known (another official source (http://www.81.cn/jwgz/2016-04/22/content_7019148_2.htm) confirms 5 thingies on board but didn't name them).
I don't know if this point has been made explicitly here before, but it's worth mentioning again that the YZ-1 upper stage is flying on this flight - and it looks like that it will have a 4 burn complex mission this time.
GP, I PM'd Satori with this post so that he can update the Chinese launch schedule and thread titles.
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YZ-1 or YZ-2? Or the latter only for the CZ-5?
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YZ-1 or YZ-2? Or the latter only for the CZ-5?
As Im understanding it YZ-2 is only for launchers with CZ-5 Diameter and wider.
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Still no signs of air-space or marine-space closure notices? (I have searched all the way from the South China Sea to the Philippines to Papua New Guiana and I don't see any yet) The Chinese are very coy on this and as of this moment any launch attempt tomorrow isn't yet confirmed. :-X
Also I have seen unfortunate rumors (from CCTV reporters) (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=13078&pid=475359) that the state TV channels will be "doing a Vostochny" this time - although unlike all other Chinese launches till now, this time people can easily fill in with live coverages outside, e.g. this one:
This may or may not be a live broadcast of the launch...
http://v.qq.com/live/p/topic/7569/preview.html
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China's new carrier rocket Long March-7 cleaner, stronger (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/23/c_135461291.htm).
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China's new carrier rocket Long March-7 in good condition (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/24/c_135463872.htm).
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A look into China's latest space center (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/24/c_135464517.htm).
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Apparently I missed out on noticing that (http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-7/CZ7-first-launch.html) there are 5 payloads on board as leaked out on a TV news report back in April - the prototype capsule (no name given), Aoxiang-1, a block of ballast and two other small satellites called "ADRV" and "BPV" whose identity isn't known (another official source (http://www.81.cn/jwgz/2016-04/22/content_7019148_2.htm) confirms 5 thingies on board but didn't name them).
The Aoxiang-1 cubesat is also reported to be part of the QB50 mission to be deployed from the ISS. But perhaps the QB50 satellite has been changed to a different serial number.
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Here is Spaceflight 101's preview of the launch :
http://spaceflight101.com/long-march-7-set-for-debut-launch/
China will debut the next in its new line of rockets as early as Saturday, also marking the grand-opening of a new civilian launch base on the Island of Hainan.
The Long March 7 rocket – China’s new medium-lift workhorse – is set for its first launch attempt at 12:00 UTC on its maiden voyage to demonstrate new rocket technology set to become China’s ride into space for the next several decades. Whether Saturday’s launch attempt will actually take place is not yet certain due to a bad weather outlook at the new launch site and a general lack of information on launch processing milestones. The official launch period extends through Wednesday, meaning that liftoff may not necessarily be aimed for the weekend.
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Little to nothing is known about the payloads hidden under the 4.2-meter fairing of the Long March 7 rocket. Reportedly aboard the vehicle is a prototype version of China’s future crewed spacecraft, a ballast mass, the Aoxiang-1 two-unit CubeSat and two other small satellites.
The prototype vehicle is a scaled version of a re-entry capsule that would be employed by China’s future crewed space vehicle, ferrying crews to and from the country’s modular space station to be established in the not too distant future.
According to reports, the prototype vehicle is outfitted with a navigation system, heat shield, parachutes and a communications system capable of transmitting through the plasma occurring during the hypersonic re-entry sequence. A possible landing zone for the capsule has been identified in air route closures showing a restriction in Inner Mongolia on June 26 between 7 and 8 UTC.
Looks like this story is at least partially based on this Chinese website :
http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-7/CZ7-first-launch.html
This gives the air route closure data for the landing of the prototype capsule.
A1466/16 (Issued for ZLHW ZBPE) - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:
N401808E0944257-N404248E0982052-N410926E1054055-N410453E1073638-N405513E1084226-N400814E0955838
BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL,
26 JUN 07:17 2016 UNTIL 26 JUN 07:50 2016.
It also has a drawing and what appears to be a picture of the prototype capsule and lots of other interesting images.
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not sure if this was posted yet.....
http://english.cctv.com/2016/06/23/VIDEXYbuAq4oxECVsQ4mVfFM160623.shtml
has a good video on the page
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Apparently I missed out on noticing that (http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-7/CZ7-first-launch.html) there are 5 payloads on board as leaked out on a TV news report back in April - the prototype capsule (no name given), Aoxiang-1, a block of ballast and two other small satellites called "ADRV" and "BPV" whose identity isn't known (another official source (http://www.81.cn/jwgz/2016-04/22/content_7019148_2.htm) confirms 5 thingies on board but didn't name them).
The Aoxiang-1 cubesat is also reported to be part of the QB50 mission to be deployed from the ISS. But perhaps the QB50 satellite has been changed to a different serial number.
No, you are correct - the one flying today is the Star of Aoxiang (http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=407), a 12U picosat also from the Northwestern Polytechnical University. :P
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Finally found a marine navigation warning notice that sort of confirms the launch time. AFAIK the Chinese are still mum on any launch attempt today..... :-X
I'll move this to the live section once I can confirm good live coverages from the public watching area (as I said, CCTV is almost certainly pulling out of going live).
NAVAREA XI
NO.16-0378 Date:2016/06/24 09 UTC
SOUTH CHINA SEA NORTHERN PART.
ROCKET LAUNCHING. 251200Z TO 251400Z
JUN. FOLLOWING RANGE CLEARANCE AREA
ESTABLISHED.
AREAS BOUNDED BY
A. 14-43.7N 116-36.1E
15-08.2N 116-58.1E
16-01.1N 115-54.5E
15-36.6N 115-32.6E.
B. 14-11.9N 117-09.3E
14-40.4N 117-34.9E
15-05.2N 117-05.5E
14-36.7N 116-39.8E.
C. 13-39.7N 117-42.7E
14-12.2N 118-12.0E
14-40.7N 117-38.5E
14-08.1N 117-09.2E.
CANCEL THIS MSG 251500Z JUN.
P.S. The booster drop zone means that the US Navy might be able to go and see if they can salvage something on board their aircraft carriers.... (http://rs279.pbsrc.com/albums/kk143/faeini1/duck.gif?w=480&h=480&fit=clip)
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Finally found a marine navigation warning notice that sort of confirms the launch time. AFAIK the Chinese are still mum on any launch attempt today..... :-X
I'll move this to the live section once I can confirm good live coverages from the public watching area (as I said, CCTV is almost certainly pulling out of going live).
NAVAREA XI
NO.16-0378 Date:2016/06/24 09 UTC
SOUTH CHINA SEA NORTHERN PART.
ROCKET LAUNCHING. 251200Z TO 251400Z
JUN. FOLLOWING RANGE CLEARANCE AREA
ESTABLISHED.
AREAS BOUNDED BY
A. 14-43.7N 116-36.1E
15-08.2N 116-58.1E
16-01.1N 115-54.5E
15-36.6N 115-32.6E.
B. 14-11.9N 117-09.3E
14-40.4N 117-34.9E
15-05.2N 117-05.5E
14-36.7N 116-39.8E.
C. 13-39.7N 117-42.7E
14-12.2N 118-12.0E
14-40.7N 117-38.5E
14-08.1N 117-09.2E.
CANCEL THIS MSG 251500Z JUN.
P.S. The booster drop zone means that the US Navy might be able to go and see if they can salvage something on board their aircraft carriers.... (http://rs279.pbsrc.com/albums/kk143/faeini1/duck.gif?w=480&h=480&fit=clip)
Im told by a family member stationed in Guam that there US and and allied ships dispatched to the boundary of the area from Japan, Guam, and Philippines with Aegis and other missile systems tracking radars and cameras predicted to be used to track and estimate the impact points. Other US and allied ships are being routed away or making extended port calls during the launch window to stay clear. Chinese Navy is expected to be in the area as Chinese vessels recently made there presence known near Guam last week before moving back out into sea. The US and allied Navies happen to be in the same area ahead of a show of force training exercise with South Korea, Japan and others in the coming weeks.
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Note that the last sentence from my previous post is a joke. :P
Some good live text coverage at the launch by Phoenix TV (which is pretty reliable): http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/ (http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/)
Thunderstorms had rolled through there earlier today, but it seems that anything short of heavy rainfall would stop the launch. Also fueling operations have been underway for the last few hours.
Edit: Sina News have live video coverage right now: http://video.sina.com.cn/l/p/1708426.html (http://video.sina.com.cn/l/p/1708426.html)
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Note that the last sentence from my previous post is a joke. :P
Some good live text coverage at the launch by Phoenix TV (which is pretty reliable): http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/ (http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/)
Thunderstorms had rolled through there earlier today, but it seems that anything short of heavy rainfall would stop the launch. Also fueling operations have been underway for the last few hours.
Edit: Sina News have live video coverage right now: http://video.sina.com.cn/l/p/1708426.html (http://video.sina.com.cn/l/p/1708426.html)
I'm getting No signal, please wait.... on sina.com.cn's flash player, is that just me?
Edit: Nevermind, there is video now.
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Finally found a marine navigation warning notice that sort of confirms the launch time. AFAIK the Chinese are still mum on any launch attempt today..... :-X
I'm in Xi'an this week, I was wondering why the tv news kept doing spots about their rockets today. I only speak English and Spanish so I couldn't understand it, but there is some coverage being done here.
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Apologies if this has been discussed above. Are they launching the rocket right over Philippines? (Pic above) Where would the spent stages fall?
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According to several people on twitter this feed will have live coverage, it has a countdown timer running at least.
http://live.kankanews.com/zhibo/1325.html
And second possibility.
http://live.kankanews.com/zhibo/1288.html
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Here are drop zones A, B and C as per the above navigational warning
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B2217/16 - DUE TO CHINA ROCKET LAUNCH AFFECTING WESTERN PORTION OF MANILA FIR, THE FLW AWY ARE CLSD: L625 BTN ARESI AND AKOTA L628 BTN ARESI AND IBOBI M754 BTN GUKUM AND AKOTA ALTN RTE OF FLT ARE AS FLW: PANDI M765 OSANU M646 LAXOR N884. 25 JUN 11:00 2016 UNTIL 25 JUN 14:30 2016. CREATED: 25 JUN 07:40 2016
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View from my Hilton hotel room
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View from my Hilton hotel room
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(http://)
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Saw unconfirmed reports that the launch has been pushed back to 13:30 UTC, but take it with a grain of salt. :P
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Here are drop zones A, B and C as per the above navigational warning
Drop zone A, B and C could correspond to:
A) boosters debris
B) 1st stage debris
C) Fairing debris
Haven't found yet a NOTAM/warning for 2nd stage drop zone
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Saw unconfirmed reports that the launch has been pushed back to 13:30 UTC, but take it with a grain of salt. :P
Seems to be 12:20 UTC instead. I hope that the situation clears up soon... ::)
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The service tower platforms have apparently just retracted for launch, as reported by the CCTV news channel.
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I don't know how CCTV news will cover this, but these links are worth monitoring:
http://weibo.com/p/2309125fc8a5d61e2acbfc7158cb7d60278c34 (http://weibo.com/p/2309125fc8a5d61e2acbfc7158cb7d60278c34)
tv.cctv.com/live/cctv13/ (http://tv.cctv.com/live/cctv13/)
Edit: This is the one link that I can confirm definitely works anywhere, including on mobile: http://news.qq.com/zt2016/launchlive/index.htm (http://news.qq.com/zt2016/launchlive/index.htm)
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China's Long March-7 rocket ready for lift-off (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/25/c_135465760.htm).
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Stream is up here:
http://live.kankanews.com/zhibo/1325.html
Showing some cool renderings of the rocket.
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Can someone help with the screenshots? I'm outside and not in a good position for doing live coverage. :-*
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some live coverage
http://live.kankanews.com/zhibo/1325.html (http://live.kankanews.com/zhibo/1325.html)
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This is working for me.
http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/
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Long March 7 carrier rocket facility prepares for launch (http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/0625/c90000-9077353.html).
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The CZ-7 looks like a nice set of hardware - I hope it goes really well for them.
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Animation of launch.
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more, excellent
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What is the launch time?
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I got confirmation, that the Aoxiang-1 (http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/aoxiang-1.htm) satellite is still to be launched on the QB50 mission. So what is listed here as Aoxiang-1 might in fact be a sister satellite of Aoxiang-1.
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http://news.ifeng.com/special/czqhhnsf/ is not working for me, and http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/ is just some sort of text/photo liveblog. Does anyone have a direct link to the stream you're all posting pictures from? Thanks.
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I got confirmation, that the Aoxiang-1 (http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/aoxiang-1.htm) satellite is still to be launched on the QB50 mission. So what is listed here as Aoxiang-1 might in fact be a sister satellite of Aoxiang-1.
I suppose is the Star of Aoxiang (Aoxiang Zhixing (翱翔之星)), a CubeSat-12U.
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http://news.ifeng.com/special/czqhhnsf/ is not working for me, and http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/ is just some sort of text/photo liveblog. Does anyone have a direct link to the stream you're all posting pictures from? Thanks.
Have you tried this:
http://live.kankanews.com/zhibo/1325.html
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T-15 minutes?
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70% increase in payload mass.
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View from my hotel room
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http://news.ifeng.com/special/czqhhnsf/ is not working for me, and http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zzqhsf/ is just some sort of text/photo liveblog. Does anyone have a direct link to the stream you're all posting pictures from? Thanks.
Have you tried this:
http://live.kankanews.com/zhibo/1325.html
That works, thanks very much!
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From the bleachers. :-)
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T-10 minutes?
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Nice animation.
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Assembly building I presume.
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Several streams going from the observation zone
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The long rail to the pad.
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T-5 minutes?
View of launch pad and control room.
-
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View of the vehicle. I heard some shouting in the back ground.
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T-3 min
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T-3 minutes? We need a countdown clock! :-)
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T-2 minutes?
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T-3 min
Yay, someone from China. Do tell us if there are any major news since our Chinese skills are... poor :)
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T-1 minute?
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Launch!
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Liftoff!
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We have launch!!! We have launch!!!!!
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Any indications of the target orbit? I would assume it would be similar to the initial Tiangong orbit, roughly 43 deg, 195-320 km?
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T+1 minute.
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Launch
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I really hope someone is recording this, it's quite a surreal choice of music.
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T+2 minutes. They played music during the launch!
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T+3 minutes.
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Lost most of the streams, demand I presume.
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T+4 minutes. Video of a phone recording of launch.
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Rui's article!
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/06/china-debuts-long-march-7-rocket/
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T+5 minutes. Excited spectator.
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very lucky, saw the water come on .....
Utube Preflight videos
Full lineup
https://youtu.be/hZjt_Q-MjVU
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Love the gallery of rockets graphic
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T+6 minutes. Empty launch pad.
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T+7 minutes. View of assembly buildings.
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No CZ-9 in the launch vehicles line-up. ;) :(
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T+8 minutes. Showing assembly animation.
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Coming up on S/C Sep.
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T+9 minutes.
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T+10 minutes. Should be in orbit by now.
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I think that was YZ-1 separation and ignition.
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T+13 minutes.
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Launch replay.
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QQ.com still showing the launch pad.
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Tian He Space Station.
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Note that CCTV News (http://tv.cctv.com/live/cctv13/sd/index.shtml) has now finally caught up and has shown better replay footage. ;)
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Great work everyone! A new rocket to add to the list!
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(http://)
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mission success
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Launch success just officially announced at the LCC. ;)
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General making an announcement. Looks like good news!
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Applause. Must have been successful.
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Another general.
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back success ?
-
Looks like a success banner on the main screen.
-
News 24 ending their coverage.
Congratulations to China for the first successful launch of CZ-7!
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Thumbs up!
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The QQ commentator.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SthAvbaDhcA
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More pre-flight
others see above
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHzZIYjpy4s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHzZIYjpy4s)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpOOxhT7hJE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpOOxhT7hJE)
https://youtu.be/9Mm4TO_b9-I
Edit: add video
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CCTV News is now replaying the "standard stream" of the launch complete with rocketcam. 8)
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Some more animations.
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Apparently the YZ-1 upper stage flying with the CZ-7 is called "YZ-1A" (http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5Njc4ODY1MQ==&mid=2651905570&idx=1&sn=ca2431d61b19efe461598587f83c83be&scene=23&srcid=0625ZzveK1S7Z2H9Mbaa3ewN#rd), featuring enhanced re-ignition capability.
Exact liftoff time is 12:00:07:413 UTC (which fits with earlier reports that liftoff occurs 7.6 seconds after command issuing).
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SthAvbaDhcA
I love how the reaction to a launch is universal, regardless of what country you're from.
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CCTV News is now replaying the "standard stream" of the launch complete with rocketcam. 8)
some iffy pics on the replays
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Orbit reached is 200 x 394 km (I guess 42 degrees inclination?) per Xinhua: http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-06/25/c_1119111642.htm (http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-06/25/c_1119111642.htm)
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Orbit reached is 200 x 394 km (I guess 42 degrees inclination?) per Xinhua: http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-06/25/c_1119111642.htm (http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-06/25/c_1119111642.htm)
Any new info regarding the payloads?
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5594IBy2qQA
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more from the replays
-
A few launch images...
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Good and interesting coverage. I applaud China's achievement whole-heartedly! And I'm really looking forward to the maiden launch of Long March 5 and the upcoming 30 day Shenzhou manned flight.
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Whilst watching CCTV English language Chinese news, there was a report confirming that Putin had signed a deal that the RD-180 would be sold to China! Anyone wanna bet how soon the Long March 9 design will change to incorporate this engine? ;)
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Whilst watching CCTV English language Chinese news, there was a report confirming that Putin had signed a deal that the RD-180 would be sold to China! Anyone wanna bet how soon the Long March 9 design will change to incorporate this engine? ;)
I think that in five to six years, the RD-180 will be officially on the Long March 9 rocket. So, I'd say between 2021 and 2022.
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Not much has been said on the payloads, except that there's some kind of "space garbage removal experiment" on board (probably staying behind on the upper stage, if I read correctly - some kind of non-separable payload had been hinted before launch).
In other news, are there any archive video of the full launch sequence shown on CCTV from T-1 minute to upper stage separation around?
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Whilst watching CCTV English language Chinese news, there was a report confirming that Putin had signed a deal that the RD-180 would be sold to China! Anyone wanna bet how soon the Long March 9 design will change to incorporate this engine? ;)
I think that in five to six years, the RD-180 will be officially on the Long March 9 rocket. So, I'd say between 2021 and 2022.
It was always going to make an excellent Heavy Lift launcher rocket engine - such as on the Atlas V Phase 2 concept. Long March 9 might incorporate up to 8 of them if four liquid strap on boosters are used with a cryogenic corestage, or 12 if the corestage is redesigned as also being all LOX/Kerosene, with the upper stages being cryogenic with the new YF-220 engines. I think we can finally rule out huge solids for the strap on boosters.
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I think that in five to six years, the RD-180 will be officially on the Long March 9 rocket. So, I'd say between 2021 and 2022.
China has their YF460 (500 tons LOX / kerosene rocket engine) and YF220 (220 tons hydrogen oxygen engine) plan for LM9, perhaps YF460 will largely refer to the design of RD180, but not directly brought to use.
China develops a new rocket is in order to promote the development of their technology, rather than making a rocket itself.
So it might be possible for LM9 to emerge until 2030, and the manned moon landing program will be even more late.
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Anyone knows the launch mission codename for this one?
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I now have the full list of the payloads on board - turns out to be 6 satellites plus 1 non-separable experiment on the upper stage. However as the news reports were very brief and the operators and details of some of them are still missing, I'm still waiting for more info before posting the full details. :-X
-
-
I now have the full list of the payloads on board - turns out to be 6 satellites plus 1 non-separable experiment on the upper stage. However as the news reports were very brief and the operators and details of some of them are still missing, I'm still waiting for more info before posting the full details. :-X
Seems like there are some details here http://scitech.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0625/c1057-28478343.html
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If I am translating correctly the payloads are
遨龙一号
(Ao Long yi hao, Dragon Excursion 1 - or maybe Network Something...)
for active space debris cleanup
翱翔之星
(aoxiang zhixing, Hover Star)
12U cubesat for radiation and gravity field measurement, navigation technology
天鸽飞行器
(tiange feixingqi, Dove Aircraft 1 and 2) - a pair of data relay satellites
在轨加注实验装置
(zai guijia zhu shiyan zhuangzhi)
In-orbit refuelling experiment, remains attached to YZ1A
as well as the return capsule which presumably reenters along with the YZ-1A.
-
Not much has been said on the payloads, except that there's some kind of "space garbage removal experiment" on board (probably staying behind on the upper stage, if I read correctly - some kind of non-separable payload had been hinted before launch).
In other news, are there any archive video of the full launch sequence shown on CCTV from T-1 minute to upper stage separation around?
This is what I want (http://tv.cctv.com/2016/06/25/VIDE5L4o1u4djszkO4S51liY160625.shtml) but I can't grab the video out of the website. Can someone help with this? Thanks!
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Not much has been said on the payloads, except that there's some kind of "space garbage removal experiment" on board (probably staying behind on the upper stage, if I read correctly - some kind of non-separable payload had been hinted before launch).
In other news, are there any archive video of the full launch sequence shown on CCTV from T-1 minute to upper stage separation around?
This is what I want (http://tv.cctv.com/2016/06/25/VIDE5L4o1u4djszkO4S51liY160625.shtml) but I can't grab the video out of the website. Can someone help with this? Thanks!
Here's my attempt, did that work?
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Not much has been said on the payloads, except that there's some kind of "space garbage removal experiment" on board (probably staying behind on the upper stage, if I read correctly - some kind of non-separable payload had been hinted before launch).
In other news, are there any archive video of the full launch sequence shown on CCTV from T-1 minute to upper stage separation around?
This is what I want (http://tv.cctv.com/2016/06/25/VIDE5L4o1u4djszkO4S51liY160625.shtml) but I can't grab the video out of the website. Can someone help with this? Thanks!
Here's my attempt, did that work?
Thanks!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alFgWFVKc04
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Based on the above video stage 2 cutoff is T+592s and YZ-1 separation is T+599s
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Here's my attempt, did that work?
Like a dream, thank you. Almost as if you were sitting there yourself. ;)
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Anyone knows the launch mission codename for this one?
Is it "87-01"?
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2016-042A 41624: 381 x 288 km, i=40.8°
2016-042B 41625: 377 x 289 km, i=40.79°
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Is there an official list of flight event times somewhere? From the video, here is what I observed:
1:26 liftoff
4:20 booster jettison
4:34 core shutdown
4:36 stage 2 ignition
5:03 fairing jettison (218s on video overlay)
11:17 stage 2 shutdown (593s on video overlay)
11:23 payload separation
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2016-042C 41626: 379 x 201 km, i=40.8°
Object D missing
2016-042E 41628: 379 x 204 km, i=40.8°
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2016-042C 41626: 379 x 201 km, i=40.8°
Object D missing
2016-042E 41628: 379 x 204 km, i=40.8°
Also some objects in more elliptical orbit which may be stage 2 sep motor covers 41630 - 41633
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Times from Chinese press:
6月25日20时00分，我国载人航天工程为发射货运飞船而全新研制的长征七号运载火箭在海南文昌航天发射场点火升空，约 603秒后，载荷组合体与火箭成功分离，进入近地点 200 千米、远地点394千米的椭圆轨道，长征七号运载火箭首次发射圆满成功。
１６７秒，火箭助推器分离。
１８２秒，火箭一二级分离。此时，火箭已经飞出地球大气层。
２１１秒，整流罩分离。
A reconstruction from 9ifly.cn:
T+0，点火
T+174秒，助推器分离
T+190秒，一级分离
T+213秒，整流罩分离
T+603秒，级箭分离
T+约38分钟，遨龙一号分离
T+约1小时42分，翱翔之星分离
T+19小时20分~20小时，缩比返回舱分离返回东风着陆场
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More TLEs now showing 3 groups of orbits:
A 287 x 381 x 40.8
B 287 x 377 x 40.8
C 201 x 378 x 40.8
D 200 x 377 x 40.8
E 202 x 379 x 40.8
F 202 x 379 x 40.8
G 201 x 555 x 40.7
H 197 x 578 x 40.5
J 198 x 585 x 41.2
K 195 x 590 x 41.0
Initially I thought G to K might be motor separattion covers as per the usual CZ-2 series but now I'm wondering if they are the YZ-1A payloads, with the higher apogee and the variation in inclination reflecting YZ-1 burns.
Any suggestions?
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Sorry for being late - I'm now scanning the various Chinese articles related to this launch, which contains info on the flight sequence, the upper stage and (some) of the various payloads on board. Gimme some time.....
-
Some TLE analysis suggests that objects A/B and C/D/E/F separated at first apogee around 1255 UTC.
I can't get a great match for objects G/H/J/K separating from A/B. G/H/J/K may have been close to C/D/E/F
around 1220 UTC.
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Now waiting for news about the re-entry and (hopefully) recovery of the descent vehicle, around 7:30-8 am UT today.
-
Apparently the return of the capsule is live on CCTV news - the parachute has already been deployed.
-
Now watching the post-landing operations on CCTV 13. Maybe it's the time of day or maybe it's misty there?
-
Is that Yang Liwei in the studio, helping with the commentary?
Apparently this is a 50% mock-up of the real thing which will be capable of carrying 4-6 people. Wish I understood Chinese! The landing site is very windy - and quality of the TV pictures has greatly improved.
Animation of the de-orbit being shown: of the descent module is about 2 metres diameter it is attached to a 6-7 metres long cylinder which is performing the de-orbit. De-orbit velicity vector at about 45 deg to the flight path.
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Descent module reminds me of the Russian Yantar close-look descent module, but somewhat stubbier: base diameter around 2 metres, maybe a bit more? Hmmm, perhaps more like the TKS descent module in shape.
I wish I had tuned in earlier - the descent module was already on the ground when I started watching. Single parachute used for final descent, then again a 50% vehicle would not need more. I also wish I could understand Chinese and my fingers were quick and nimble enough to do screenshots, sorry. :(
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This page is interesting: http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/. If he translation is accurate it seems possible that the name of the new manned spacecraft might be something like "Life Ark".
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This page is interesting: http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/. If he translation is accurate it seems possible that the name of the new manned spacecraft might be something like "Life Ark".
It's not its real name, just a description used for the capsule used in the title of an article from CAST. ;)
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This page is interesting: http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/. If he translation is accurate it seems possible that the name of the new manned spacecraft might be something like "Life Ark".
It's not its real name, just a description used for the capsule used in the title of an article from CAST. ;)
Thank you for clarifying.
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Replay of major events during today's re-entry, with Yang Liwei and Yang Lei (CAST IMSSE chief engineer) providing commentary.
http://tv.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0626/c61600-28479191.html
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Recording of CCTV13's coverage, starting from 120:00 (= UTC+8 June 26, 2016 15:00)
http://tv.cctv.com/live/cctv13/index.shtml?stime=1466917200&etime=1466935200&type=lbacks
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Reentry module aboard Long March-7 lands successfully (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/26/c_135467394.htm).
-
Has a landing time been published yet, please?
-
If I am translating correctly the payloads are
遨龙一号
(Ao Long yi hao, Dragon Excursion 1 - or maybe Network Something...)
for active space debris cleanup
翱翔之星
(aoxiang zhixing, Hover Star)
12U cubesat for radiation and gravity field measurement, navigation technology
天鸽飞行器
(tiange feixingqi, Dove Aircraft 1 and 2) - a pair of data relay satellites
在轨加注实验装置
(zai guijia zhu shiyan zhuangzhi)
In-orbit refuelling experiment, remains attached to YZ1A
as well as the return capsule which presumably reenters along with the YZ-1A.
OK after one full day only some more tidbits have been made known so I'll list them one by one:
The prototype NGCV scale model doesn't seems to have an official name from the reports that came back today. It is apparently a "1:0.6" model of the real thing, has a height of 2.3 meters, a maximum diameter of 2.6 meters and weights 2.8 tonnes. Like what Orion/Dragon 2/CST-100/PTK-NP do it and the real thing have re-usable TPS.
This is the first time the Chinese test out re-usable capsules/TPS and retrieve re-entry aerodynamic data.
Due to stabilization issues the capsule has an additional supersonic stabilization parachute in additional to the standard main and drogue chutes. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
(1) http://china.cnr.cn/yaowen/20160625/t20160625_522491462.shtml (http://china.cnr.cn/yaowen/20160625/t20160625_522491462.shtml)
(2) http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIzMzI0MDU5OA==&mid=2650245156&idx=2&sn=2d4ff8be0ab08669fcb180f5689ddc6e&scene=23&srcid=0625jLghSeUQJcy8FKJweBRQ#rd (http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIzMzI0MDU5OA==&mid=2650245156&idx=2&sn=2d4ff8be0ab08669fcb180f5689ddc6e&scene=23&srcid=0625jLghSeUQJcy8FKJweBRQ#rd)
(3) http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2016-06/25/c_1119111772.htm (http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2016-06/25/c_1119111772.htm)
(4) http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5Njc4ODY1MQ==&mid=2651905598&idx=1&sn=701ec002da0cce71cf1f31a980e36f1e&scene=23&srcid=0626ghhtB2XsXkj7UR46Gi7z#rd (http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5Njc4ODY1MQ==&mid=2651905598&idx=1&sn=701ec002da0cce71cf1f31a980e36f1e&scene=23&srcid=0626ghhtB2XsXkj7UR46Gi7z#rd)
(5) http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIzMzI0MDU5OA==&mid=2650245163&idx=2&sn=92b9c9f490019cae7ba33486f9058a63&scene=23&srcid=06267JaiLL6hvr9GfVU9qivg#rd (http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzIzMzI0MDU5OA==&mid=2650245163&idx=2&sn=92b9c9f490019cae7ba33486f9058a63&scene=23&srcid=06267JaiLL6hvr9GfVU9qivg#rd)
-
That landing site looks incredibly windy... ...being dragged for a quarter of a mile is certainly not something you'd want a crew to endure.
-
Has a landing time been published yet, please?
1541 Bei time http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/06-26/7918008.shtml
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According to a Gunter's Space Page section regarding the Long March 7, it does correctly state that the variant used yesterday was the Long March 7/YZ-1A.
However, other variants are listed above the launch history such as the Long March 7 (300) and the Long March 7 (340 + HO). I'm thinking that the "340 + HO" config could have been used for yesterday's flight.
-
Capsule is 2.3m high 2.6m dia mass 2600 kg.
http://news.ifeng.com/a/20160626/49244372_0.shtml
-
Aolong-1 (I would translate it as "Traveling Dragon" ;) - probably the "ADRV" shown earlier) - described as a small satellite demonstrating active orbital debris clean-up techniques using a robotic arm to simulate grabbing virtual targets and "throw" them back into the atmosphere. Satellite's operator is not known. (6) (7)
Star of Aoxiang ("Soaring" is probably the best translation of 翱翔) - built by Xian's Northwestern Polytechnical University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_Polytechnical_University), it is apparently the 1st 12U picosat of any kind in the world (the photos below should clear up any size issues). The 18 kg, 30 x 20 x 20 cm satellite will perform tests on optical polarization navigation outside the atmosphere for about 3 months. (8 ) (9)
2 x Tiange ("Sky Dove" - probably the "BPV" shown earlier) satellites - only thing known about them is that they will test intra-satellite and satellite-to-Earth communication techniques. Nothing else is known about them, including the satellite operator. :-X (10)
In-orbit satellite fueling experiment - as its name suggests, this fluid transfer experiment for developing fuel/gas transferal in orbit remains attached to the YZ-1A upper stage. Again, the operator of the experiment is not known (10)
Ballast - seems like it was shaped like the Tianzhou logistics spacecraft, the major user of the baseline CZ-7. According to a CCTV news report the total payload weights 12 tonnes.
(6) http://news.cnr.cn/dj/20160625/t20160625_522495575.shtml (http://news.cnr.cn/dj/20160625/t20160625_522495575.shtml)
(7) http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/06-26/7917814.shtml (http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/06-26/7917814.shtml)
(8 ) http://news.cyol.com/content/2016-06/25/content_12909280.htm (http://news.cyol.com/content/2016-06/25/content_12909280.htm)
(9) http://news.nwpu.edu.cn/info/1002/45299.htm (http://news.nwpu.edu.cn/info/1002/45299.htm)
(10) http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-06/25/c_1119111794.htm (http://news.xinhuanet.com/2016-06/25/c_1119111794.htm)
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According to a Gunter's Space Page section regarding the Long March 7, it does correctly state that the variant used yesterday was the Long March 7/YZ-1A.
However, other variants are listed above the launch history such as the Long March 7 (300) and the Long March 7 (340 + HO). I'm thinking that the "340 + HO" config could have been used for yesterday's flight.
The "340 + HO" version - a.k.a. the baseline LM-7 + a 3rd stage base on the LM-3B LH2 upper stage with new YF-75D engines - would have been the replacement for the LM-3B/C workhorses, but as far as I know it's still a paper rocket right now. That really puts the LM-7 in an awkward position considering that it really can't do much to beyond LEO even with the baseline version, which is heavier than the Atlas V 551 yet requiring 10 oxidizer-rich stage combustion kerlox engines! Never mind that crazy F9-1.2 thing from that SoCal company which must not be named..... :-\
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Has a landing time been published yet, please?
1541 Bei time http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/06-26/7918008.shtml
Thank you! Missed it live by about 5 minutes then.
I assume it's too much to hope for any detailed description of the YZ-1A manoeuvres?
And which of the ten objects tracked in orbit is which? Well, we'll know which is the YZ-1A/NGCV because that will have disappeared from orbit this morning. Do we know when the small satellites were separated from YZ-1A?
-
The "340 + HO" version - a.k.a. the baseline LM-7 + a 3rd stage base on the LM-3B LH2 upper stage with new YF-75D engines - would have been the replacement for the LM-3B/C workhorses, but as far as I know it's still a paper rocket right now. That really puts the LM-7 in an awkward position considering that it really can't do much to beyond LEO even with the baseline version, which is heavier than the Atlas V 551 yet requiring 10 oxidizer-rich stage combustion kerlox engines! Never mind that crazy F9-1.2 thing from that SoCal company which must not be named..... :-\
CZ-7 seems less efficient on paper, and likely will turn out to be less efficient, but with a 12 tonne payload, it apparently just out-lifted, on its inaugural launch, every Falcon 9 and Atlas 5 flown to date, not to mention every other launch vehicle flown this year to date.
- Ed Kyle
-
Apparently the YZ-1 upper stage flying with the CZ-7 is called "YZ-1A" (http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MjM5Njc4ODY1MQ==&mid=2651905570&idx=1&sn=ca2431d61b19efe461598587f83c83be&scene=23&srcid=0625ZzveK1S7Z2H9Mbaa3ewN#rd), featuring enhanced re-ignition capability.
Exact liftoff time is 12:00:07:413 UTC (which fits with earlier reports that liftoff occurs 7.6 seconds after command issuing).
According to the LM-7 project director (http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/06-25/7917513.shtml), the differences of the YZ-1A from the original YZ-1 are as follows:
- mission lifetime up to 48 hours (was 6.5 hours on the YZ-1) - this is apparently being demonstrated right now since it won't be de-orbited until tomorrow at the earliest
- up to at least 9 engine burns possible, and possibly up to 20 burns (http://tv.cctv.com/2016/06/26/VIDEqBtgDlmlAuV5AgfWiEYU160626.shtml) (was only 2 on the YZ-1)
- at least capable of making 7 payload separations (only single payloads possible on the YZ-1)
- improved thermal control system, guidance algorithms and orbit planning for multiple payload deployment missions
- YZ-1A will form the basis for future deep space propulsion stages, space tugs and orbital servicing and debris removal spacecraft
-
AP story:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4c73dc21c41b49e3986a5effd4e1d197/china-schedule-launch-2nd-space-station (http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4c73dc21c41b49e3986a5effd4e1d197/china-schedule-launch-2nd-space-station)
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CZ-7 seems less efficient on paper, and likely will turn out to be less efficient, but with a 12 tonne payload, it apparently just out-lifted, on its inaugural launch, every Falcon 9 and Atlas 5 flown to date, not to mention every other launch vehicle flown this year to date.
- Ed Kyle
You can't compare 12 t into LEO to 6 to 10 t into GTO.
-
AP story:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4c73dc21c41b49e3986a5effd4e1d197/china-schedule-launch-2nd-space-station (http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4c73dc21c41b49e3986a5effd4e1d197/china-schedule-launch-2nd-space-station)
I wonder if the twerp who wrote this story describes American launches as having "slung" payloads into orbit. It also repeats the too-common error that the CZ-5 will launch Tiangong 2. Why can't these idiots get their facts right?
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Why can't these idiots get their facts right?
I think this question answers itself.
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More TLEs now showing 3 groups of orbits:
A 287 x 381 x 40.8
B 287 x 377 x 40.8
C 201 x 378 x 40.8
D 200 x 377 x 40.8
E 202 x 379 x 40.8
F 202 x 379 x 40.8
G 201 x 555 x 40.7
H 197 x 578 x 40.5
J 198 x 585 x 41.2
K 195 x 590 x 41.0
Initially I thought G to K might be motor separattion covers as per the usual CZ-2 series but now I'm wondering if they are the YZ-1A payloads, with the higher apogee and the variation in inclination reflecting YZ-1 burns.
Any suggestions?
I saw some Chinese forum members making these guesses (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=13078&pid=476657) based on previously leaked flight sequences info (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=13078&pid=466801 (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=13078&pid=466801)):
A and B should be Star of Aoxiang and the combination upper stage, ballast and the capsule still attached (not in order), since the orbit perigee has been raised.
C to F are probably the 2nd stage, Aolong-1, its dispenser and the upper stage support structure, again not in order.
G to J are probably the motor separation covers.
We should have a few more objects appearing since the 2 Tiange satellites was listed as being separated after a 2nd upper stage burn. Then a 3rd burn would be done (presumably to a sub-orbital trajectory since the capsule needs to come down ballistically) and the ballast and the capsule would be separated. Then apparently the upper stage would make a 4th burn to put it back into orbit.
The YZ-1A will then continue making some engine burns (http://news.cri.cn/20160626/88d6539b-743f-4412-4bb7-a55c4a5c4906.html) to test engine multiple re-starts, long duration burns, as well as "virtual rendezvous" with a virtual target and testing inter-spacecraft communications and optical tracking. Eventually it will be de-orbited (one CCTV reports puts this at T+43 hours, or around 7 am UTC tomorrow) over the central Pacific.
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Anyone knows the launch mission codename for this one?
Is it "87-01"?
Seems to be "07-W1" instead. (https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/746924315006775296) ;)
(07 is shared with Xichang flights, which sounds right since IIRC WSLC is actually managed by XSLC)
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CZ-7 seems less efficient on paper, and likely will turn out to be less efficient, but with a 12 tonne payload, it apparently just out-lifted, on its inaugural launch, every Falcon 9 and Atlas 5 flown to date, not to mention every other launch vehicle flown this year to date.
- Ed Kyle
You can't compare 12 t into LEO to 6 to 10 t into GTO.
I'm not. I'm just comparing pure payload mass, obviously to LEO but also regardless of destination. Also, the heaviest Atlas 5 payload to GTO of which I'm aware was 6.74 tonnes (MUOS, one of which flew this past week). Falcon 9's heaviest GTO has been 5.27 tonnes. CZ-7 with an LH2 fueled upper stage is said to be able to lift 7 tonnes to GTO (which is obviously another one of those TBD numbers).
- Ed Kyle
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According to a Gunter's Space Page section regarding the Long March 7, it does correctly state that the variant used yesterday was the Long March 7/YZ-1A.
However, other variants are listed above the launch history such as the Long March 7 (300) and the Long March 7 (340 + HO). I'm thinking that the "340 + HO" config could have been used for yesterday's flight.
The "340 + HO" version - a.k.a. the baseline LM-7 + a 3rd stage base on the LM-3B LH2 upper stage with new YF-75D engines - would have been the replacement for the LM-3B/C workhorses, but as far as I know it's still a paper rocket right now. That really puts the LM-7 in an awkward position considering that it really can't do much to beyond LEO even with the baseline version, which is heavier than the Atlas V 551 yet requiring 10 oxidizer-rich stage combustion kerlox engines! Never mind that crazy F9-1.2 thing from that SoCal company which must not be named..... :-\
Please note, that the "340 + HO" designation is only preliminary. I simply do not know yet the designations of the planned CZ-7 versions.
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The capsule seemingly does not have solid motors for landing
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if my 3d simulation is right, the upper diameter is around 1,6m
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According to a Gunter's Space Page section regarding the Long March 7, it does correctly state that the variant used yesterday was the Long March 7/YZ-1A.
However, other variants are listed above the launch history such as the Long March 7 (300) and the Long March 7 (340 + HO). I'm thinking that the "340 + HO" config could have been used for yesterday's flight.
The "340 + HO" version - a.k.a. the baseline LM-7 + a 3rd stage base on the LM-3B LH2 upper stage with new YF-75D engines - would have been the replacement for the LM-3B/C workhorses, but as far as I know it's still a paper rocket right now. That really puts the LM-7 in an awkward position considering that it really can't do much to beyond LEO even with the baseline version, which is heavier than the Atlas V 551 yet requiring 10 oxidizer-rich stage combustion kerlox engines! Never mind that crazy F9-1.2 thing from that SoCal company which must not be named..... :-\
Please note, that the "340 + HO" designation is only preliminary. I simply do not know yet the designations of the planned CZ-7 versions.
I've recorded it as 341, since I count the YZ-1 as an upper stage. But of course this is my internal designation until CASTC decide to inform the official designation.
The old LM-5 has all this complicated numerical designation.
But now that they have separated the families in LM-5/6/7 I've noted that the LM-5 is the one with an upper stage and the LM-5B is the one without one. So I would suspect that the LM-7 family will follow a similar nomeclature where the version with the upper stage gets an A or B designation. After all, that's also the case for the rest of the LM families.
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It does seem that there are no new TLEs for 41624 (42A) since early Jun 26 while the other objects
are continuing to get TLEs. This suggests that 42A was the return capsule+YZ-1A? And that if the YZ-1A is
back in orbit, JSpOC hasn't found it yet.
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With various propulsive events, any word on visual sightings of plume clouds?
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the payload that was put into orbit
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This morning's paper. Note the comment about the US space program on page 2 from an anonymous source.
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The capsule seemingly does not have solid motors for landing
So they have progressed from copying Soyuz mold lines to Dragon mold lines? 8)
On a more serious note, congratulations on the flight! :)
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Anyone knows the launch mission codename for this one?
Is it "87-01"?
Seems to be "07-W1" instead. (https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/746924315006775296) ;)
(07 is shared with Xichang flights, which sounds right since IIRC WSLC is actually managed by XSLC)
Thanks, we are closing in, but this will need to be confirmed
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The capsule seemingly does not have solid motors for landing
So they have progressed from copying Soyuz mold lines to Dragon mold lines? 8)
On a more serious note, congratulations on the flight! :)
Not even remotely funny
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Here are some screen grabs of the re-entry.
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video for the above...
Footage: Re-entry module of Long March-7 lands safely
CCTV News
Published on Jun 26, 2016
The scaled-down version of the re-entry module of the Long March-7 carrier rocket landed on Sunday afternoon in a desert in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, close to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. China blasted off its new generation carrier rocket Long March-7 from the Wenchang space launch center in south China's Hainan province on Saturday.
https://youtu.be/9emiOPyicMc?t=001
https://youtu.be/9emiOPyicMc
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I take it that the graphic is showing the YZ-1A stage performing the retro burn?
- Ed Kyle
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I take it that the graphic is showing the YZ-1A stage performing the retro burn?
- Ed Kyle
I believe yes.
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I'm not taking this. I believe object A is the experimental spaceship (deorbited on June 26) and object B is the YZ-1A which remained in orbit as of today.
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I'm not taking this. I believe object A is the experimental spaceship (deorbited on June 26) and object B is the YZ-1A which remained in orbit as of today.
Hmm... but B has not made any obvious orbit changes, shouldn't it make further burns? The point was to put the YZ-1A
in multiple orbits...
I'm open to the possibility that YZ-1A was attached to A, made the deorbit burn, and then immediately made a re-orbit burn but in the process got lost by US tracking
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Umm... Indeed, the B object is still in orbit and if it did perform some maneuvers these were very small.
I'd check now objects E (not seen since early June 26) and D (made quite unnatural descent later on June 26).
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The capsule seemingly does not have solid motors for landing
So they have progressed from copying Soyuz mold lines to Dragon mold lines? 8)
On a more serious note, congratulations on the flight! :)
Not even remotely funny
But accurate. I would *love* to see China fly a design that isn't a close derivative of something else, but they haven't. But maybe that's the smart approach, let others do high risk projects and learn from them.
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On the subject of things that re-enter from space and plan to stay intact, I believe "aerodynamics" is the bad guy who dictates a lot of the copying as far as the outer mold line goes...
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But accurate. I would *love* to see China fly a design that isn't a close derivative of something else, but they haven't. But maybe that's the smart approach, let others do high risk projects and learn from them.
The Chinese are hardly the first to 'copy' spacecraft designs, but I think they are perhaps the first pay for such 'copies'. Good for them! Oh, and Japan.
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But accurate. I would *love* to see China fly a design that isn't a close derivative of something else, but they haven't. But maybe that's the smart approach, let others do high risk projects and learn from them.
The Chinese are hardly the first to 'copy' spacecraft designs, but I think they are perhaps the first pay for such 'copies'. Good for them! Oh, and Japan.
The Chinese do not blindly copy. They look at what other people have done and then if they want they might modify those designs into something they want to develop and which suits their requirements. Remember, most cars are simply boxes with a wheel at each corner because that is deemed to be a good design.
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This morning's paper. Note the comment about the US space program on page 2 from an anonymous source.
Well hey, they did exactly what communist space officials are supposed to do: praise their own program and take stabs at the US capitalist space program. Compared to some of the statements from the former Soviet Union the Chinese are actually very mild in voicing their opinion on other space programs.
But I digress. Back OT: I hope the Chinese will incorporate automated riser cutters on the manned version of this spacecraft. Being dragged around like that by the parachute will probably be no fun whatsoever for any future crew.
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Umm... Indeed, the B object is still in orbit and if it did perform some maneuvers these were very small.
I'd check now objects E (not seen since early June 26) and D (made quite unnatural descent later on June 26).
Yes, D and E are the strange ones. Haven't decided what to make of it. Oh for some RCS values...
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Umm... Indeed, the B object is still in orbit and if it did perform some maneuvers these were very small.
I'd check now objects E (not seen since early June 26) and D (made quite unnatural descent later on June 26).
Yes, D and E are the strange ones. Haven't decided what to make of it. Oh for some RCS values...
And look at that, A just got a new TLE set so it isn't gone after all...
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CZ-7 seems less efficient on paper, and likely will turn out to be less efficient, but with a 12 tonne payload, it apparently just out-lifted, on its inaugural launch, every Falcon 9 and Atlas 5 flown to date, not to mention every other launch vehicle flown this year to date.
This is completely bogus. Falcon, Atlas, and Proton all put 20+ tonnes into perfectly good LEOs. It's beyond dishonest to suggest their payload was less, just because they chose to use that capacity to do additional burns, to put a smaller final payload into a higher energy orbit.
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Did anybody record the KANKANEWS broadcast of the launch?
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It looks like that Aolong-1 actually has a real "space debris simulator" (read: sub-satellite) that is released and grabbed by its robotic arm. CALT itself operates the satellite with the sub-satellite's release mechanism designed by the Harbin Institute of Technology.
Source (http://news.hit.edu.cn/7d/47/c1510a163143/page.htm)
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capsule returns to Beijing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFZQr8PAUv8
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CZ-7 seems less efficient on paper, and likely will turn out to be less efficient, but with a 12 tonne payload, it apparently just out-lifted, on its inaugural launch, every Falcon 9 and Atlas 5 flown to date, not to mention every other launch vehicle flown this year to date.
This is completely bogus. Falcon, Atlas, and Proton all put 20+ tonnes into perfectly good LEOs. It's beyond dishonest to suggest their payload was less, just because they chose to use that capacity to do additional burns, to put a smaller final payload into a higher energy orbit.
The heaviest payload (not upper stage and propellant) ever launched by Atlas to any orbit was 7,490-something kg (Cygnus OA-4). The heaviest ever launched by Falcon 9 to any orbit was CRS-8 at probably 10,360 kg. CZ-7 put about 12,000 kg into orbit. On its first launch.
This rocket's capability is in the EELV-Medium Plus range. When equipped with an LH2 upper stage, it will be able to carry more payload to GTO than any Atlas 5 or Falcon 9 has yet carried, regardless of claimed performance, according to http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/long-march-7/ .
- Ed Kyle
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CZ-7 seems less efficient on paper, and likely will turn out to be less efficient, but with a 12 tonne payload, it apparently just out-lifted, on its inaugural launch, every Falcon 9 and Atlas 5 flown to date, not to mention every other launch vehicle flown this year to date.
This is completely bogus. Falcon, Atlas, and Proton all put 20+ tonnes into perfectly good LEOs. It's beyond dishonest to suggest their payload was less, just because they chose to use that capacity to do additional burns, to put a smaller final payload into a higher energy orbit.
The heaviest payload (not upper stage and propellant) ever launch by Atlas to any orbit was 7,490-something kg (Cygnus OA-4). The heaviest ever launched by Falcon 9 to any orbit was CRS-8 at probably 10,360 kg. CZ-7 put about 12,000 kg into orbit. On its first launch.
So what? FH will best that by a significant margin on its first flight, but I suspect you won't care to note that.
And since when do you care about LEO payload? (Anytime you compare SpaceX to someone else's rocket it is suddenly only GTO or lunar transfer or mars transfer that matters) ::)
This rocket's capability is in the EELV-Medium Plus range. When equipped with an LH2 upper stage, it will be able to carry more payload to GTO than any Atlas 5 or Falcon 9 has yet carried, regardless of claimed performance, according to http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/long-march-7/ .
More double standards. For some LV's, you use "will be able to carry" figures, where as for others you use "yet carried" figures. At least pretend to be objective.
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So what? FH will best that by a significant margin on its first flight, but I suspect you won't care to note that.
Of course I will, assuming it happens.
More double standards. For some LV's, you use "will be able to carry" figures, where as for others you use "yet carried" figures. At least pretend to be objective.
Unlike the others, CZ-7 actually demonstrated something close to its claimed LEO capability.
- Ed Kyle
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Please stop the "launch vehicle testosterone" arguments. They serve no useful purpose and they are not relevant to this thread which is about the CZ-7's maiden flight..
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There's CMSEO article (http://cmse.gov.cn/news/show.php?itemid=5507) from June 27 that states that the LM-7 certified new avionics. an locally developed RTOS, Nd a distributed, multiplexed architecture which is designed to enable reusability.
I found this very interestingly and wonder if the LM-5 will sport the same avionics. I would guess the LM-6 doesn't since it was developed by a different team. But LM-7 is a mix of the LM-2F and the original 3.35m core LM-5.
Edit: added the article's URL.
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Two new objects cataloged, 41636 and 41637 in circular 280 x 290 km orbit. I suspect these are the Tiange
1 and 2 satellites, released after the 2nd YZ-1A burn.
So the profile could be
YZ-1 sep from stage 2 (C) in 200 x 379 km
Eject separation motor covers G,H,J,K into 200 x 560 km orbits
Release D, E and F into 200 x 380 km orbits
F well tracked and decaying at similar rate to C; possibly AoLong-1
D changed decay rate on morning of Jun 26, now decaying quickly and should reenter in next couple of days
E disappeared morning of Jun 26 after possible small manuevers (or just cross-tagging/bad tracking)
YZ-1 burn 1 to 287 x 381 km orbit around 1255 UTC Jun 25
Objects A and B then appear.
B is is probably Aoxiang Zhixing
A disappears early Jun 26 (an additional TLE set on Jun 27 may be spurious, is my hunch)
YZ-1 burn 2 to 280 x 290 km
Objects L and M then appear - maybe Tiange 1 and 2
YZ-1A and reentry capsule deorbit at 0730 Jun 26
YZ-1A separates from reentry capsule
YZ-1A then maybe returns to orbit and makes more orbit changes before deorbiting over the Pacific;
is apparently not tracked by the US in this phase, if this phase indeed occurred.
The remaining mystery is what the story is with object A and objects D/E. I don't see how D/E can be the RV/YZ-1A since they stayed in the initial CZ-7 delivery orbit, ahd the RV/YZ-1A must have moved to the later orbits, suggesting the A elements belong to it. Or maybe the graphics are bogus and D/E is the RV and associated equipment, performing its own deorbit, while A is YZ-1A and it flew a separate mission not attached to the RV.
I'm (obviously!) still confused.
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The capsule seemingly does not have solid motors for landing
So they have progressed from copying Soyuz mold lines to Dragon mold lines? 8)
On a more serious note, congratulations on the flight! :)
Not even remotely funny
But accurate. I would *love* to see China fly a design that isn't a close derivative of something else, but they haven't. But maybe that's the smart approach, let others do high risk projects and learn from them.
Not accurate, the fact that are a limited number of optimum designs does not imply copying.
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Some pics of the capsule recovery posted by Xinhua.
Also< I found this article about the Yuanzheng-1 payload: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Upgraded_space_shuttle_bus_aboard_new_carrier_rocket_999.html
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The heaviest payload (not upper stage and propellant) ever launched by Atlas to any orbit was 7,490-something kg (Cygnus OA-4). The heaviest ever launched by Falcon 9 to any orbit was CRS-8 at probably 10,360 kg. CZ-7 put about 12,000 kg into orbit. On its first launch.
The heaviest payload (not upper stage and propellant) ever launched by a moon-mission Saturn-V to any orbit was 5,900 kg (Apollo command module). The heaviest ever launched by Falcon 9 to any orbit was CRS-8 at probably 10,360 kg. CZ-7 put about 12,000 kg into orbit.
Hence CZ-7 > Falcon 9 > Saturn V, by this metric.
This rocket's capability is in the EELV-Medium Plus range. When equipped with an LH2 upper stage, it will be able to carry more payload to GTO than any Atlas 5 or Falcon 9 has yet carried, regardless of claimed performance, according to http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/long-march-7/ .
Alternatively, you could compare like-to-like to GTO
Demonstrated Claimed
Falcon-9 5,300 kg (SES-9) 8,300
Atlas-5 7.000 kg (MUOS) 8,900
CZ-7 0 7,000
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Do we have any picture or at least computer simulation of the YZ-1A?
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Do we have any picture or at least computer simulation of the YZ-1A?
The images captured in this message may show a simulated version of YZ-1A providing a deorbit burn for the NGCV.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39414.msg1554535#msg1554535
Here's another capture that shows what is likely the stage.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39414.msg1554463#msg1554463
- Ed Kyle
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Do we have any picture or at least computer simulation of the YZ-1A?
The images captured in this message may show a simulated version of YZ-1A providing a deorbit burn for the NGCV.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39414.msg1554535#msg1554535
Here's another capture that shows what is likely the stage.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39414.msg1554463#msg1554463
- Ed Kyle
I've been giving it much thought, since that simulations look nothing like the Fregat silhouette of the YZ-1. But then it hit me: they launched a 12tonne payload, and that's quite probably way over the YZ-1A structural limits.
Could it be that they made a structure around the YZ-1 to qualify also the Tianzhou moments of inertia and LM-7 structural limits and to carry the payload's extra weight so the YZ-1 didn't collapse?
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China announces success in technology to refuel satellites in Orbit
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/30/c_135479061.htm
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Several western media sources have picked up that "refueling" announcement, and are predictably going way overboard with it. Case in point:
https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/02/china-refuels-satellite-in-orbit/
But given that the refueling experiment never separated from the upper stage, it seems the best they could have done was demonstrating in-orbit operation of some sort of fuel transfer within the experiment, or perhaps between the experiment and the upper stage. If so, sounds less impressive than what DARPA's OrbitalExpress did 9 years ago:
http://archive.darpa.mil/orbitalexpress/pdf/oe_fact_sheet_final.pdf
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Several western media sources have picked up that "refueling" announcement, and are predictably going way overboard with it. Case in point:
https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/02/china-refuels-satellite-in-orbit/
But given that the refueling experiment never separated from the upper stage, it seems the best they could have done was demonstrating in-orbit operation of some sort of fuel transfer within the experiment, or perhaps between the experiment and the upper stage. If so, sounds less impressive than what DARPA's OrbitalExpress did 9 years ago:
http://archive.darpa.mil/orbitalexpress/pdf/oe_fact_sheet_final.pdf
Well, this is a good time to post this little factoid: this payload is called "Tianyuan-1" and is built and operated by a team at the National University of Defense Technology (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_University_of_Defense_Technology) (NUDT), best known for hosting some of the world's fastest supercomputers and has already operated 3 small satellites. The payload involves transferal experiments of 3 (not named) different fuels. ;)
Source (http://jz.chinamil.com.cn/n2014/tp/content_7127006.htm)
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Do we have any picture or at least computer simulation of the YZ-1A?
there is a office special report :
http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1318695/n1319529/n1319608/c1344664/content.html
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Do we have any picture or at least computer simulation of the YZ-1A?
there is a office special report :
http://zhuanti.spacechina.com/n1318695/n1319529/n1319608/c1344664/content.html
That's what I speculate the is the payload adapter around the YZ-1A. It is my big uncertainty about this mission.
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http://www.satview.org/spacejunk.php?sat_id=41628U (http://www.satview.org/spacejunk.php?sat_id=41628U)
Looks like Satview's entry prediction for the upper stage was off by a rev. Saw a nice fiery trail of destruction headed ENE over Los Angeles about 15-20 minutes ago, including some debris separation from the main trail. I was driving, so no pictures.
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http://www.satview.org/spacejunk.php?sat_id=41628U (http://www.satview.org/spacejunk.php?sat_id=41628U)
Looks like Satview's entry prediction for the upper stage was off by a rev. Saw a nice fiery trail of destruction headed ENE over Los Angeles about 15-20 minutes ago, including some debris separation from the main trail. I was driving, so no pictures.
Some news reports coming in:
Article and Picture
http://kutv.com/news/local/lights-streak-across-utah-skies-wednesday-night
Article and a collection of videos submitted by viewers:
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Light-Streak-Sky-Southern-California-388505322.html
One more with a better video:
http://abc7news.com/news/bay-area-residents-report-mysterious-light-streak-across-sky/1446518/
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ROCKET REENTRY | Lights up night sky! (Chang Zheng 7 Rocket)
Killworthy Gaming
Published on Jul 27, 2016
UPDATE!!! | This has now been confirmed as the reentry of the Chang Zheng 7 rocket, launched Jun 25. (Also the Long March 7)
https://youtu.be/XS0i3j8zkRM?t=001
https://youtu.be/XS0i3j8zkRM
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I was out at an outdoor concert (Duran Duran 8) ) At the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles Californa and saw the reentry begin coming from the west headed east at a good rate. It was slower than a meteor and appeared artificial at the time. The vehicle had not yet broken up and was a single bright point with a short particulate trail.
I managed a few seconds of low quality video before it disappeared behind structure. The Camera's autofocus didn't like the little fast moving point of light having just been shooting brightly lit rock stars moments before.
The fireball passed overhead and moments later the band launched into their song "Planet Earth" done in a tribute medley with David Bowie's "Major Tom". Appropriate indeed but entirely coincidental :)
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Eve News first story...
http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/32559640/strange-apparently-burning-object-spotted-in-the-sky
Vegas news on it
http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/las-vegas-locals-witness-mysterious-lights-streaking-through-sky
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I was out at an outdoor concert (Duran Duran 8) ) At the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles Californa and saw the reentry begin coming from the west headed east at a good rate. It was slower than a meteor and appeared artificial at the time. The vehicle had not yet broken up and was a single bright point with a short particulate trail.
I managed a few seconds of low quality video before it disappeared behind structure. The Camera's autofocus didn't like the little fast moving point of light having just been shooting brightly lit rock stars moments before.
The fireball passed overhead and moments later the band launched into their song "Planet Earth" done in a tribute medley with David Bowie's "Major Tom". Appropriate indeed but entirely coincidental :)
I was up on the hillside listening to the concert and saw it go over, spectacular (and surprising!) sight. Here's a zoom from a decent picture I got of it.
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Anyone have a location for any debris (if any) might be located?
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The second stage of CZ-7 seen breaking up over the Western U.S. does any one have weight and size for this or a guess?
Regards
Thomas
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From: Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
[email protected]
www.spacearchive.info
2016 August 2 (Tuesday) 19:42 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------
REENTRY OBSERVED
Late last week I received e-mails from two Launch Alert readers in
California who saw something interesting in the sky. The following are
their initial reports and follow-up comments:
John G.
Malibu
"Saw a very big, huge shooting star/asteroid/satelite streak across
the southern california sky from southwest to northeast. Airborn for
a full minute. 9:38 pm on July 27, 2016. Any idea what it was???"
"We are in the hills of Malibu and a at 9:38 pm on July 27 halfway up
from the horizon in the south west sky we saw what looked like a
large asteroid with a long tail on a very shallow trajectory. It
continued to streak across the sky at a very shallow trajectory as it
moved northeast with no diminishment. As it moved across the sky the
fir ball broke into two parts and the tail became longer and more
widespread. It was still illuminated when it went behind a mountain
range and we lost sight of it. It was pretty spectacular."
Michael H.
Nipomo Mesa
"I happened to walk outside and saw a large white fireball with a
spectacular streaming tail almost directly overhead at first I mistook
it for a large meteor but it was moving too slowly and persisted too
long. My second scary thought was a balistic missile from North Korea
or other space weapon. About 30 seconds or more into the transit it
broke into two distinct objects. As it headed toward the horizon it
turned a beautiful red and vanished from site, crisis averted.
When I told my friend about it, who lives in Arroyo Grande, he said he
heard a rumble and wondered if there was a launch that night. I did
not hear anything but I was too excited and could have been drowned
out by my shouts of astonishment.
It was a frightening yet beautiful experience, I consider myself lucky
to have witnessed it. I religiously watch and photograph every VAFB
launch and this was by far the most spectacular space event I have
ever witnessed. The Delta IV heavy launch would be a distant second.
The conspiracy theorist in me thought it was uncanny and an extreme
coincidence how this thing came in right at the West Coast of
California. Could China be testing a planned re-entry for space weapon
development? It's fun and scary to think... maybe."
The following news item appears to explain what these readers saw:
JOINT SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER TRACKS REENTRY OVER CALIFORNIA
JFCC SPACE Public Affairs, Joint Functional Component Command for
Space
2016 July 28
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- U.S. Strategic Command's Joint
Functional Component Command for Space (JFCC Space), through the Joint
Space Operations Center (JSpOC), removed a Chinese CZ-7 rocket body
from the U.S. satellite catalog as a decayed object after it reentered
the atmosphere July 27, 2016, over North America (vicinity California)
at approximately 9:36 p.m. PDT (12:36 p.m. EDT).
In addition to this object, which was initially launched on June 25,
2016, the JSpOC tracks more than 16,000 other on-orbit cataloged
objects, which are listed in USSTRATCOM's Satellite Catalog and the
publicly-available website www.Space-Track.org. That service is a key
element of our commitment to provide space situational awareness for
spaceflight safety. The effects of the atmosphere on reentering
objects preclude the JSpOC from accurately tracking any reentries
after initial contact with the atmosphere occurs.
"Our mission, which we remain focused on, is to monitor space and the
tens of thousands of pieces of debris that congest it, while at the
same time working with our government, international and industry
partners to increase space situational awareness and ensure
spaceflight safety," said Col. Michael Manor, 614th Air Operations
Center Commander and JSpOC Director. "There are many factors acting
on an object as it decays and reenters the atmosphere, such as how it
tumbles and breaks up, variations in the gravitational field of a
landmass or ocean, solar radiation pressure, and atmospheric drag, that
limit us from predicting what happens after the interface altitude."
The JSpOC used the Space Surveillance Network sensors and their
orbital analysis system to confirm the CZ-7 reentry, and to refine its
prediction and ultimately provide more fidelity as the reentry time
approached. The JSpOC does not predict or track what happens after the
spacecraft decays below the interface altitude, such as where on the
Earth's surface debris, if any, lands.
Additional questions about the rocket body should be directed to
Chinese authorities, particularly the Chinese National Space
Administration.
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