SCIO press briefing on China's space laboratory mission
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, April 28, 2017
TASS (Russia):
China has achieved a high level of science and technology. In this case, would China like to cooperate with Russia? The second question: will Chinese astronauts stay in the space station for a long time or just a shorter period after it becomes operational?
Since China’s approval of its manned space program in 1992, we have always maintained a good relationship with Russia and established the Sino-Russia Manned Space Cooperation Joint Committee. Within this framework, China and Russia had conducted various forms of cooperation in the field of manned space flight. In the early stage，Russia gave us great support in regard to research on spaceships and spacesuit development, and some other related technologies. I’ve expressed our gratitude to Russia on different occasions. The manned space engineering program should be a good platform for international cooperation. China is willing to cooperate with different countries on the basis of mutual respect，equality and mutual benefit，openness and transparency. We would like to continue our cooperation with Russia and other countries in this field.
The second question is whether the astronauts can stay in the space station for a long time. In our plan, the astronauts should stay in the space station according to the differing need during the stage of construction. After it is finished, the astronauts will indeed stay in the space station for a long time. We have put a lot of effort into building this rare space station. It would be a pity if it had no astronauts operating there. Thank you.
Takungpao:
Tianzhou 1 is China’s first cargo spaceship, so what is its transport capacity? What’s the significance of its orbital refueling test with Tiangong 2? Could you compare Tianzhou 1 with similar cargo spaceships recently launched by the United States and Russia? Moreover, media reports have shown cargo shipment of International Space Station is not going smoothly. Do you think China’s Tianzhou 1 could take on supply missions for the International Space Station in the future if needed?
Yang Baohua:
Tianzhou 1, an important part of building and operating China’s manned space station, provided resources and fuel to Tiangong 2 space lab this time. It will also be used to transport trash from the space station and destroy it after entering the atmosphere. Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Tianzhou 1 has the maximum cargo capacity of 6.5 tons and weighs 13.5 tons fully loaded. Its maximum refueling capacity is 2.1 tons. That’s quite impressive.
As for the third question regarding its features compared with other cargo spaceships internationally, it has a larger cargo capacity and a higher payload ratio than its foreign counterparts. Its cargo capacity of 6.5 tons is much higher than the 2.3 tons of its Russia counterparts; its U.S. counterparts, Cygnus and Orion, can ship 2.7 tons and 3.5 tons respectively.
The retired Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) had a cargo capacity of up to 7.7 tons. However, its weight, at nearly 21 tons fully loaded, meant its payload ratio (the proportion of cargo capacity to the total weight of the spaceship) is only 0.3, much lower than Tianzhou 1’s impressive 0.48.
Another feature is that our space program has followed a modular design approach, which can serve multiple purposes. Though a late starter, China’s manned space program is developing at a high starting point. Since the very first design period, we have conceived a series of modular designs. The Tianzhou 1 we launched this time has a fully-enclosed cargo hold mainly to provide food and other materials for daily use. We have also sent some equipment and experiment payloads for the capsule for the future space station.
We also have a semi-sealed design and the cargo hold is mainly to transport some big components, like a solar wing. China’s manned space station is designed to have a life cycle of over 20 years. During such a long orbit, it may suffer malfunctions in components like the solar wing. The solar wing, due to its size, needs to be put into a semi-sealed capsule during transportation, and then gets replaced or maintained through mechanical arms in the space station under the operation of astronauts on board. Another module could be a fully-open design to transport much bigger equipment for not just maintenance of the space station, but also some big satellites and low orbit flight vehicles ready for launch. So, this is so-called modular design.
The third feature for Tianzhou 1 is that it’s both economical and practical. It is not only used for cargo shipment and refueling, but also for warehousing and carried out experiments. Besides the in-orbit refueling test, the Tianzhou 1 this time is also equipped with several dozen experiment payloads in order to meet long-term experimental tasks.
Let’s continue, to address the second question, which focuses on the significance of space refueling. We should say that the technology is very critical. A complete command of propellant in-orbit refueling marks the breakthrough in a number of key technologies, such as extravehicular activities of astronauts, docking, unmanned and manned automatic and manual space rendezvous from Shenzhou-8 to Shenzhou 11, invariably working for the construction and operation of the space station. The current technology is no exception. We have made a major breakthrough by solving the space refueling technology in our Space Lab, a key process when we move on to operate a space station. By removing the last obstacles possibly affecting the building and operation of the space station in the long run, and consolidating the foundations of the space station for smooth and lasting operation, the significance of the technology goes far beyond the issues I’ve just mentioned. The technology can be further applied to low-orbit satellites and spacecraft by providing orbital refueling. It can also operate as a refueling center and intermediate station for the exploration of deep space, which is indeed magnificent.
It is generally known that the United States failed in launching a space cargo craft when something went wrong with its rocket and Russia also was unsuccessful in refueling the International Space Station. What is fortunate, however, is that the ISS is refueled with surplus resources so it can sustain normal operations for some extra time. So, the media start to focus on our space cargo endeavors, wondering whether our space freight craft can send some necessary resources to the ISS. But the operation is difficult at present -a result of the denial of Chinese accession to the International Space Station imposed by the United States and EU countries in the beginning. Because of this, the technological standards, such as the interfaces, are yet to be unified, and that is why the docking cannot be fulfilled in the short term. However, the aerospace staff in China is willing to work on behalf of the International Space Station, because space exploration, the manned endeavor, should be a cause shared by the entire human race in peace.
Wang Zhaoyao:
The remark of Mr. Yang is very comprehensive. China is enabled by both of its technologies and competence to transport freight to the International Space Station. However, as what Mr. Yang told us, we need, specifically, to take a step further to solve problems with different interfaces, which has drawn considerable concern from the international community. In the past few years, the country has been engaged in standardizing the interfaces of its spacecraft, especially in regard to manned spaceflights. It’s like the diversity of cell phones which cannot be recharged because of unmatched outlets.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)