China to have new rockets

[Galactic Penguin SST]

LM-MLV launcher overview (see slide 29) and Range Safety Analysis when launched from Taiyuan launch center with QB50 cubesats (see slide 30).

http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/pres/stsc2013/tech-26E.pdf

Wow, I think this is almost certainly the very first public information on the mysterious CZ-11! 

Th CZ-11 is to be launched from a mobile platform or from a new launch facility?

No idea........ heck I still don't have any idea how the future CZ-6 launch facility will look like! 

[ChileVerde]

LM-MLV launcher overview (see slide 29) and Range Safety Analysis when launched from Taiyuan launch center with QB50 cubesats (see slide 30).

http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/pres/stsc2013/tech-26E.pdf

Bit of cartodiplomacy there with the third stage drop zone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spratly_Islands_dispute

[ChileVerde]

LM-MLV launcher overview (see slide 29) and Range Safety Analysis when launched from Taiyuan launch center with QB50 cubesats (see slide 30).

http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/pres/stsc2013/tech-26E.pdf

It has a certain ICBMish appearance to it. Perhaps a repurposed DF-31/41???

[Satori]

This photo was on facebook with the comment "Test firing of a KT-2 solid fuel rocket."

[snowhole]

This photo was on facebook with the comment "Test firing of a KT-2 solid fuel rocket."

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34655592/?q=Ares%20I

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The mystic CZ-11 has passed through the design phase (CDR?) and hardware development has already started. This small solid launcher, described as China's launch vehicle for quick response payloads, uses the largest solid rocket motor ever developed in China on the first stage. The rocket will debut within the 12th Five Year Plan period (i.e. by late 2015).

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2013lh/2013-03/02/c_114859871.htm

[Galactic Penguin SST]

However not everything is rosy in China - looks like the CZ-5 project team hit snags on optimizing the first stage LH2 tank - there are problems with the structure, thermal insulation and boil-off control on the tank. Its first flight is now "within 3 years" (!). On the other hand, it seems that development of the CZ-7 is smoother and may have its first flight in late 2014.

Source: http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/03-01/4608258.shtml

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Well we now have clear answers to the maiden flight targets:

CZ-6 and CZ-7: 2014
CZ-5: 2015

Surely these three years will be exciting to see so many new launchers coming on line! 

Source: http://news.cntv.cn/2013/03/14/VIDE1363233481886184.shtml

[Galactic Penguin SST]

A CZ-5 booster being erected onto a test firing platform (can't remember where it is, I think somewhere outside Beijing):

The booster is 3.35 m in diameter, 27.6 m in length, and weighs more than 14 tonnes (apparently >2 tonnes overweight!).

[beidou]

http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=10802&pid=256279&fromuid=24484

CZ-5 booster testing was successful on June 29th.

[beidou]

A prototype of CZ-5 is under construction.
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=10802&pid=256822&fromuid=24484

[aquanaut99]

Discussions reveal the Chinese heavy-lift rocket program is in doom, either due to budget issue or the military thinks it has lower priority at this time being.
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=1527&pid=260385&fromuid=24484

You're going to have to help out those who don't read chinese, I'm afraid.

I see reference to the CZ-9 (the so-called "Moon Rocket"). Is the essence of the post that CZ-9 is in limbo? Because if so, that doesn't change anything as CZ-9 was never an official project anyway, AIUI. Just another powerpoint rocket (like we haven't seen plenty of those already...)

If, on the other hand, we are talking about CZ-5 being on hold, then that changes everything and would result in the whole "full-sized space station by 2020" project being in jeopardy. And that would leave the Chinese stuck at late-1970s USSR-level in manned spaceflight for the forseeable future.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Discussions reveal the Chinese heavy-lift rocket program is in doom, either due to budget issue or the military thinks it has lower priority at this time being.
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=1527&pid=260385&fromuid=24484

You're going to have to help out those who don't read chinese, I'm afraid.

I see reference to the CZ-9 (the so-called "Moon Rocket"). Is the essence of the post that CZ-9 is in limbo? Because if so, that doesn't change anything as CZ-9 was never an official project anyway, AIUI. Just another powerpoint rocket (like we haven't seen plenty of those already...)

If, on the other hand, we are talking about CZ-5 being on hold, then that changes everything and would result in the whole "full-sized space station by 2020" project being in jeopardy. And that would leave the Chinese stuck at late-1970s USSR-level in manned spaceflight for the forseeable future.

It's about CZ-9 and any Chinese manned lunar landing project.

Well I always thought they are nothing but paper/.pptx studies...... 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

First CZ-5 first stage for actual launches close to completion:

[beidou]

A officially released image (from Chinese Aerospace Post) shows the booster of CZ-5 and possible first stage of CZ-7.
Source: http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=10802&pid=264718&fromuid=24484

[Galactic Penguin SST]

A officially released image (from Chinese Aerospace Post) shows the booster of CZ-5 and possible first stage of CZ-7.
Source: http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=10802&pid=264718&fromuid=24484

The two stages on the left looks more like the 1st stage for the mysterious CZ-6...

[Silmfeanor]

please attach images instead of embedding them

[Satori]

[Blackstar]

New article on China's study of a heavy-lift rocket equivalent to the SLS Block 2.

[Comet]

Satory,

Did you went to the technical tour at CALT?