/sci/ - Science & Math

THE YEAR OF THE RED DRAGON IS UPON US:

>China Mars 2020 update: CASC has successfully performed a 100-second test of the hydrolox YF-77 engines for the 4th Long March 5, which will launch the China Mars orbiter/rover mission late July/early Aug. China's Mars mission, which is its first independent interplanetary mission, is seemingly on course for launch. Long March 5 launcher seems ready, parachutes tested, landing systems passed testing, ground stations & support ready.

>China is planning 3 sea launches of the Long March 11 solid rocket this year. First CZ-11 launch of 2020 will be from Xichang, however, in February, & use a 2.5 m fairing. Total of 5 CZ-11 launches in 2020; 2022 to see debut of larger Long March 11A.

>The Long March 8, China's first attempt at Falcon 9-style vertical takeoff, vertical landing orbital launcher. It familiar grid fins & landing legs, but notably side boosters still attached. It is to have a test launch in 2020.

>China’s new generation crew spacecraft has arrived at Wenchang, Hainan island, ahead of preparations for the test flight of the Long March 5B launch vehicle, space contractor CASC has confirmed. The new-gen spacecraft has a max length of 8.8 metres and mass of 21.6 tonnes. The flight will be uncrewed, testing on-orbit, reentry, parachutes. The launch of the LM-5B needed to proceed to launch of the 'Tianhe' space station core module. There are reports that the spacecraft will perform a high speed re-entry test a la Orion EFT-1 at the end of its 3 days mission.

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