China's Crewed Moon Mission

[skywatcher]

The lunar landing module is about 26 t and will be launched by Long March 10.
View attachment 214314

The crewed spacecraft is also about 26 t and will be launched by another Long March 10 rocket. So a total of 52 tonne hardware will be launched into lunar orbit by two Long March 10 rockets.

 

[skywatcher]

Specifications of Long March 10 rocket (As of July 2023)
Name: Long March 10
Manufacturer: CASC
Height: 92 m
Diameter: 5 m
Structure: CBC
LEO: 70 t
LTO: 27 t
First flight: 2026-2027
Reusablitiy: Reusable first stage
Take off thrust: 2187 t

 

[skywatcher]

Timeline of Long March 10

• 2017
  • China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) initiated preliminary research on the next-generation crew launch vehicle.
  • CASC completes the first test run of the first-stage engine, YF-100K.
• 2018
  • Jun-Jul, CASC completes three test-runs of the second stage engine, YF-100M
  • Nov, a model of the next-generation crew launch vehicle made its first appearance at the 12th Zhuhai Airshow.
• 2019
  • Sep, CASC announced the successful development of the first 5-meter diameter conical bottom structure storage tank, achieving a 15% weight reduction.
  • Oct, a project named "5-meter Diameter Module of the Next-Generation Crew Launch Vehicle - Overall Technology and Engineering Application" successfully passed the acceptance review organized by the CMSA.
  • Nov, CASC announced the successful development of a 5-meter liquid oxygen-kerosene storage tank.
• 2020
  • Oct, full-scale structural prototype of the thrust transfer structure, which parallel-mounts seven new liquid oxygen-kerosene engines on the first stage had been manufactured and completed static load testing.
• 2022
  • Jun 14, CASC conducts the first long-duration ignition test of the third-stage engine, YF-75E.
  • July 28, CASC conducts static and dynamic test of multiple engines in parallel.
  • July 29, CASC conducts high-altitude, high-thrust long-duration test of the YF-75E third-stage engine.
  • Sep-Oct, CASC completes three test runs (650 seconds in total) of the second-stage engine, YF-100M, using a large-sized titanium alloy nozzle extension concept. The engine passed the 105% high-altitude and high mixture ratio assessments and met the overall requirements.
  • Oct, CASC announced that the cumulative test duration of the YF-75E third-stage engine had exceeded 10,000 seconds.
  • Nov 26, CASC completes the first two ignition test runs of the YF-100K first-stage engine, achieving breakthroughs in key technologies such as high-pressure staged combustion with two ignitions, low-pressure start-up, and continuous thrust variation for reusable engines.
  • Nov-Dec, CASC conducted four consecutive test runs (a total of 2,100 seconds) of the YF-100K first-stage engine, with each engine working more than 8 times the mission duration.
• 2023
  • Feb 24, an exhibition held at the National Museum of China showed the next-generation crew launch vehicle was officially named "Long March 10".
  • March 29, the first eight-piece accumulator successfully passed the cryogenic shock and 1.4 MPa pressure tests. This component is used in the core stage's oxygen delivery system for the Long March 10.
  • May 19, CASC successfully completes grid fin deployment test for the next-generation crew launch vehicle. This test, conducted at the conceptual verification stage, verified the correctness of the grid fin design. The grid fin is an aerodynamic control mechanism for rockets, often referred to as the "small wings" of the rocket. When deployed, it helps maintain the rocket's stability during descent and enables precise landing of the booster stage.
  • May 28, CASC conducted the sixth test run of the YF-100K first-stage engine, with a cumulative test duration of 3,300 seconds, setting a new record for single-engine testing of a Chinese engine in the hundred-ton class.
  • May 29, CMSA commences the lunar landing phase (Phase 4) of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, with the Long March 10 being developed as the main vehicle for the program.
  • June 12, CASC completed the eighth test run of the YF-100K first-stage engine, with a cumulative test duration of 4,400 seconds, once again breaking the record for single-engine testing of a Chinese rocket engine in the hundred-ton class.

 

[skywatcher]

China plans to send two rockets for crewed moon landing

China plans to send two rockets to the moon by 2030, one carrying the spacecraft that will land on the surface and the other transporting the astronauts.

www.reuters.com

China plans to send two rockets for crewed moon landing
Reuters
July 12, 20231:53 PM GMT+8

BEIJING, July 12 (Reuters) - China plans to send two rockets to the moon by 2030, one carrying the spacecraft that will land on the surface and the other transporting the astronauts.

Both the rockets will enter the moon's orbit and after a successful docking the astronauts will enter the lunar lander to descend onto the moon's surface, state media reported on Wednesday, citing a China Manned Space Agency engineer.

The twin-rocket plan would overcome China's longstanding technological hurdle of developing a heavy-duty rocket powerful enough to send both astronauts and a lander probe.

After the astronauts have completed their scientific tasks and collected samples, the lander will transport the astronauts back to the orbiting spacecraft, on which they will return to Earth, said Zhang Hailian, deputy chief engineer at the China Manned Space, at a summit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

To meet China's lunar objectives, Chinese researchers are developing the super-heavy Long March 10 carrier rocket, a new-generation crewed spacecraft, a lunar lander, and a crewed lunar rover, according to Zhang.

Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Michael Perry

China plans to send two rockets for crewed moon landing

China plans to send two rockets to the moon by 2030, one carrying the spacecraft that will land on the surface and the other transporting the astronauts.

www.reuters.com

 

[skywatcher]

Timeline(machine translate)
1. In 2026, the Long March 10A will be launched for the first time, equipped with a near-Earth version of the new spacecraft, to verify the functions of the rocket and the new spacecraft.
2. In 2027, the Long March 10 will be launched for the first time, equipped with a new spacecraft, and no one will go around the moon.
3. In 2028, the Long March 10 will launch a manned lunar lander for verification of landing on the moon.
4. In 2028, the Long March 10 will be launched to carry a spacecraft for a manned flight around the moon.
Here you can dock with the lander launched to the moon for the third time, and the astronauts do not enter the lander. Verify the docking of the entire lunar orbit, and the lander is ready to return to the docking spacecraft from the moon on time for verification.
5. In 2029, the Long March 10 will launch a manned lunar lander and wait in lunar orbit.
6. In 2029, the Long March 10 will be launched to carry a new manned spacecraft to the lunar orbit and dock with the lander. Astronauts entered the lander and officially landed on the moon.

 

[skywatcher]

Timeline(machine translate)
1. In 2026, the Long March 10A will be launched for the first time, equipped with a near-Earth version of the new spacecraft, to verify the functions of the rocket and the new spacecraft.
2. In 2027, the Long March 10 will be launched for the first time, equipped with a new spacecraft, and no one will go around the moon.
3. In 2028, the Long March 10 will launch a manned lunar lander for verification of landing on the moon.
4. In 2028, the Long March 10 will be launched to carry a spacecraft for a manned flight around the moon.
Here you can dock with the lander launched to the moon for the third time, and the astronauts do not enter the lander. Verify the docking of the entire lunar orbit, and the lander is ready to return to the docking spacecraft from the moon on time for verification.
5. In 2029, the Long March 10 will launch a manned lunar lander and wait in lunar orbit.
6. In 2029, the Long March 10 will be launched to carry a new manned spacecraft to the lunar orbit and dock with the lander. Astronauts entered the lander and officially landed on the moon.

 

[DumbPilot]

View attachment 215155

Where exactly will these two ships meet up? The Apollo system of sending both ships at once was relatively reliable because they would undock in lunar orbit, land, and then also meet back up at that specfic orbital inclination defined by the descent and landing.

 

[Vamsi]

View attachment 215155

What's the weight of Crew Module alone ??

I'm not asking about the weight of the total crewed spacecraft

 

[skywatcher]

What's the weight of Crew Module alone ??

I'm not asking about the weight of the total crewed spacecraft

For more information,visit:

Mengzhou (spacecraft) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[skywatcher]

Where exactly will these two ships meet up? The Apollo system of sending both ships at once was relatively reliable because they would undock in lunar orbit, land, and then also meet back up at that specfic orbital inclination defined by the descent and landing.

Lunar orbit automatic docking.
The two launches plan is a compromise cuz Long March 9 has been completed redesigned for reusability and it won't be ready by 2030 for technical reasons.
The lesser powerful Long March 10 is the only applicable but riskier alternative to put two men on the moon by 2030.

 

[DumbPilot]

Lunar orbit automatic docking.
The two launches plan is a compromise cuz Long March 9 has been completed redesigned for reusability and it won't be ready by 2030 for technical reasons.
The lesser powerful Long March 10 is the only applicable but riskier alternative to put two men on the moon by 2030.

The Chinese don't have a hard deadline, do they? If not then Long March 9 would be a better alternative.

I suppose they can also try a Lunar docking, but that's pretty complex, especially if both crafts are launched with some time. Orbital insertion into lunar SOI has to be very very accurate and constrained.

 

[skywatcher]

The Chinese don't have a hard deadline, do they? If not then Long March 9 would be a better alternative.

I suppose they can also try a Lunar docking, but that's pretty complex, especially if both crafts are launched with some time. Orbital insertion into lunar SOI has to be very very accurate and constrained.

Stay tuned

 

[skywatcher]

12 meter diameter alloy ring for Long March 9

39 YF-215 LOX/CH4 engines for first stage of Long March 9 for full reusablitiy?
Lift off thrust 7,800 t? Seriously?

 

[skywatcher]

The combination may look like this

 

[skywatcher]

The combination may look like this View attachment 220568
View attachment 220569
View attachment 220570

 

[skywatcher]

 

[skywatcher]

View attachment 223428

 

[skywatcher]

 

[Illusive]

How much monneyy you gonna spend on this

 

[skywatcher]

How much monneyy you gonna spend on this

You guess. It's one of CCP's biggest politically driven programs.