Why can Russian join the International Space Station and China can't?

According to the development plan of China's space industry, the manned space project is implemented in three steps. The first stage is to launch unmanned and manned spacecraft, send astronauts safely into low-earth orbit, conduct earth observation and scientific experiments, and return astronauts safely to the ground.

The successful launch and return of Shenzhou VI marks the successful completion of the first phase. The second stage is to continue to break through the basic technology of manned space flight: multi-person and multi-day flight, astronauts walking out of the cabin and completing the rendezvous and docking between the spacecraft and the space capsule. On the basis of breaking through these technologies, a short-term manned space laboratory will be launched to build a complete space engineering system. The third stage is to establish a permanent space laboratory and space engineering system in China. Astronauts and scientists can travel between the earth and the space station and conduct large-scale space science experiments.

Short-term manned space station program

It is understood that the "Shenzhou VII" to be launched this year, as the first experiment of the second phase, will realize the astronauts' extravehicular walking. Subsequent "Shenzhou VIII" and "Shenzhou IX" spacecraft will no longer carry people, aiming to launch the target aircraft and realize unmanned docking. After that, "God 10" will once again carry people to heaven and realize docking. These spacecraft are all designed to build short-term manned space stations in space.

General situation of China space station

Regarding the space station to be built in China, Qi Faren, academician of China Academy of Engineering and former chief designer of shenzhou spaceship, described the general shape of the space station: it includes a core module, a cargo spacecraft, a manned spacecraft and two other modules for experiments and other functions, with a total weight of less than100t. The core cabin needs to be manned for a long time and can be docked with various experimental cabins, manned spacecraft and cargo spacecraft. However, only rockets with a carrying capacity of more than 20 tons are eligible to launch the core cabin. In addition, during the operation of the space station, a cargo ship with a large capacity is needed to transport a large amount of materials back and forth. At present, the carrying capacity of rockets in China is only 10 ton. Long March 5 is a high-thrust launch vehicle being developed in China, with a carrying capacity of over 20 tons.

Ye Xun, Director of the Manned Space Division of Shanghai Space Administration, pointed out that China's manned space flight still faces many challenges, and many technical bottlenecks need to be broken, such as in-cabin regenerative environmental control technology and life support technology, and space station on-orbit flight technology. (August 2008 15) Source: Shanghai Government Network

related news

According to People's Daily Online on the 9th, after Shenzhou VIII, Shenzhou VII will launch unmanned target aircraft to prepare for docking with China Space Station. When answering a reporter's question, Qi Chuntang, deputy commander-in-chief of the Chang 'er F rocket, revealed that Shenzhou-8 will be launched by an improved rocket of Chang 'er F, the Long March II F/G rocket, and the first flight is expected to be around 20 10. Source: chongqing morning post.

Related news: Shenzhou-8 to Shenzhou-10 are expected to be launched continuously, and Shenzhou-10 will realize manned docking.

The launch interval is in months. Shenzhou 9 Ba Shen does not carry people, and Shenzhou 10 takes people into the "station"

It can produce 25 tons of launch vehicles in six and a half years, and the launch intervals of Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 are shortened.

Southern Network News: "Once the country has established a project to develop a large thrust rocket, we can complete the manufacture and conduct the first test launch within six and a half years, and increase the rocket carrying capacity from the current 9.5 tons to 25 tons." Yesterday (2nd), at the Youth Space Forum of Beijing Aerospace Society, the reporter interviewed Liu, the chief designer of the Long March rocket of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. He revealed the progress of China's new generation of large-scale launch vehicles and the plan of Shenzhou series spacecraft.

Revealing the rocket "Lux"

The capacity of 25 tons can "carry" the space station.

The 25-ton high-thrust launch vehicle is basically equivalent to the world's top level. It can launch a space station in low orbit, and also serve the lunar exploration and other deep space exploration in high orbit.

Landing on the moon requires the rocket "Lux"

Reporter: where will the new generation of large rockets be used?

Liu, chief designer of Long March rocket of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said that after manned space flight, China has plans to launch a space laboratory. When launching the space laboratory, the existing Shenzhou-6 Long March 2F launch vehicle cannot meet the requirements of large thrust, so a new generation of large launch vehicle must be built. In addition, China's lunar exploration plan is divided into three stages: circumnavigation, descent and return, because the latter two stages need a lot of energy as support to land on the moon and return. The 25-ton launch vehicle can launch the space station in low orbit, and can also serve the lunar exploration and other deep space exploration in high orbit.

Reporter: What rocket will be used for the satellite around the moon?

Liu: The Long March 3A rocket will be used to launch a satellite around the moon, because the first step around the moon saves energy and does not require a rocket with too much thrust. In the "drop" and "return" phases, a new generation of high-thrust rockets must be used.

The new rocket uses environmentally friendly propellant.

Reporter: Has the shape of the new generation of rockets changed?

Liu: The shape is not much different from the current rocket, but the diameter will increase from 3.35 meters to 5 meters, and the carrying capacity will increase from 9.5 tons to 25 tons.

Reporter: Has the propellant been changed?

Liu: In the past, rockets used a single engine, and the new generation of launch vehicles in the future will use dual-engine technology. The two engines use different propellants respectively. One engine burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, and the other one burns liquid oxygen and kerosene. The propellant used in rockets today is toxic nitrogen tetroxide. The propellants used in the new generation of rockets are environmentally friendly materials-liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and liquid oxygen kerosene. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen produce only water, so they are clean and environmentally friendly energy sources. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant have been used in rockets in China for a long time, and the technology is very mature. Liquid oxygen kerosene has only been used in small engines, and this propellant is used abroad at present.

25 tons has reached the international top level.

Reporter: If China can build a 25-ton high-thrust launch vehicle, is there still a gap with the international leading level?

Liu: If it reaches 25 tons, it is basically equivalent to the top international level. In fact, let alone 25 tons, even if it goes up, it can be achieved. However, rockets with greater thrust will not develop for a period of time, because rockets are developed to meet the development of satellites and spacecraft, and satellites cannot be infinitely "big". But if you don't develop a rocket with high thrust, you won't be able to hit a slightly larger satellite, which is equivalent to automatically withdrawing from this launch market.

Reporter: Does the new generation of large rockets have new requirements for aerospace materials?

Liu: Yes, for example, liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and liquid oxygen kerosene should be put in a low-temperature storage tank. The cryogenic storage tank needs heat preservation, but it cannot be made very thick. Now there is a plan to use composite materials, with carbon fiber outside and thin metal layer inside. It can be made smaller now, but there are still many problems to be solved to make a 5-meter-diameter storage tank.

Foreign commercial satellites can be launched.

Reporter: Is it difficult to develop a new generation of large rocket technology?

Liu: Now the scheme design has been basically completed, and there are no technical problems. After the national project is approved, preliminary design and large-scale ground experiments will be carried out. At present, the image measurement function needs to be improved. At present, the main function of image measurement is to shoot images of rocket separation. In the next step, a new generation of large-scale launch vehicles will increase the scope of use. In addition to monitoring the image of rocket separation, some temperature fields will be measured.

Reporter: When was the project established?

Liu: I don't know the exact time, but it's all listed in the eleventh five-year plan.

Reporter: Is the high-thrust rocket ready to launch a foreign satellite?

Liu: Of course, we can provide launching services for foreign commercial satellites. In fact, all rockets can provide launch services now. In the past, we launched other people's satellites only because the rockets were strong and the satellite life was not that long. Now we're going to take a binding approach. You buy my satellite and I will launch it for you with my rocket.

Demystifying shenzhou series

Shenzhou "Three Brothers" will be launched in 1 month.

From "Shenzhou 8", "Shenzhou 9" and "Shenzhou 10" are all very fast, and more than a month is a long time. One target goes up, and the next one needs to be launched immediately, so it will be launched continuously soon.

"Ba Shen" and "Shenjiu": Only exploring the road and not carrying people.

Reporter: Will Shenzhou VII be sent up with this large thrust rocket? How many astronauts will there be on Shenzhou VII?

Liu: According to the current plan, Shenzhou VII will be launched in two years, and the Long March rocket will still be used instead of the high-thrust launch vehicle. There are three people on the "Shenzhou VII" plan. Because someone is out of the cabin, three people must cooperate to complete it.

Reporter: Will the future "Shenzhou VIII" and "Shenzhou IX" always have manned plans?

Liu: Starting from Shenzhou VIII, unmanned target aircraft, that is, space laboratory, was launched. Instead of carrying astronauts, it was sent to the sky to complete the docking of the laboratory. Shenzhou VIII is a small space laboratory with many interfaces, including Shenzhou VIII. Now all the space laboratories are preparing for the future space station. We should investigate whether people can work and live for a long time after going up, and what problems they will encounter on it. These need to be explored, because there are many problems that you can't think of at all.

"Shenjiu" also has no astronauts and only launches target aircraft.

"Shenzhou 10": Astronauts will enter the space laboratory.

Reporter: When will the manned plan be restarted?

Liu: Actually, "Shenzhou VIII" and "Shenzhou IX" are both going to explore the road to see if the docking technology is mature. It was not until Shenzhou 10 that the astronauts were taken back to work in the space laboratory.

The broadcast of "Three Brothers" is one month apart.

Reporter: Will it take two years to launch Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10?

Liu: It won't take that long! From "Shenzhou 8", "Shenzhou 9" and "Shenzhou 10" are all very fast, and more than a month is a long time. Because one target goes up and needs to launch the next one immediately for docking, it will be launched continuously very quickly. (Note: about 20 10 years)

Latest progress

It took six and a half years to build the Hercules rocket.

"Once the country plans to develop high-thrust rockets, we can finish manufacturing in six and a half years." Yesterday, Wu, president of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, revealed the research situation of China's high-thrust launch vehicle. He said that this will increase the maximum carrying capacity of China's launch vehicle from the current 9.5 tons to 25 tons.

He said that the launch vehicle is the basic system of space exploration. "It can be said that the stage of space exploration is as big as the carrying capacity of rockets."

At present, the rocket with the largest carrying capacity in China is the Long March II F, which undertook the launch mission of Shenzhou VI. Its low-earth orbit carrying capacity reached 9.5 tons, while the carrying capacity of launch vehicles in the world reached 25 tons.

"On the high-thrust launch vehicle, there is a gap of six years between China and the world's most advanced level." Wu Shuo, at present, China has made a breakthrough in key technologies of high-thrust launch vehicles and entered the stage of model research. After the national project is approved, the first test launch can be completed within six and a half years. This also means that the gap between China's high-thrust launch vehicle and the world level is narrowing.

He also revealed that the overall research funding of the project needs about one billion yuan.

Need to break through two key technologies

Yang Hong, deputy chief designer of Shenzhou VI of China Academy of Space Technology, introduced in his keynote speech that in 2004, the second phase of manned space flight was officially launched with the approval of the central government. At present, China is carrying out the second phase of the second phase of manned spaceflight project.

The project will focus on breaking through two major technologies. One is to complete astronauts' extravehicular activities, carry out spacewalks and design extravehicular spacesuits for them. The second technology is to complete the interactive docking of two spacecraft in space, in which the astronauts' extravehicular walking is the plan of Shenzhou VII.

Yang Hong said that after the completion of these two technologies, a short-term manned space laboratory will be further established, and then a permanent space station will be established.