Chinese Space Program

Scott Manley has just uploaded a video about why the Shenzhou spacecraft is better than the Soyuz spacecraft it's based on:


China's Shenzhou spacecraft is heavily inspired from Soyuz, and there are likely systems copied directly from Soyuz. However, with the benefits of 21st century development it's not wedded to many of the limitations imposed by the Soyuz heritage.
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Which oddly enough means that between the last flight of Shuttle and the first Crewed flight of Dragon it was the best operational human rated spacecraft.... I never thought about that until I wrote this description.
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Something I've wondered about both the Shenzhou's and Soyuz's LAS after it is jettisoned is if the unfired abort rocket-motor explode or just burn on impact with the ground?
 
We learn that 黎家盈 (Lai Jiaying in Mandarin, Lai Kaying in Cantonese), a policewoman (from a special surveillance unit) from Hong Kong, with a doctorate in computer science, has been selected as a Payload Specialist for the 4th Chinese Astronaut group (whose selection began in 2022), she reportedly already passed her astronaut diploma

This makes her the first Hongkonger astronaut and the first member 4th PLAASF astronaut group whose identity is known. Also the 3rd Chinese female astronaut whose identity is known, although another unknown one had been selected for the 3rd group and has yet to fly.

Another person who made it to the final selection is a person who came to Hong Kong from the mainland for development and has obtained permanent resident status. Both Hong Konger astronaut follow a 2022 call for two astronauts from HK and Macau out of the 14 astronauts of the 4th group.

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https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong...3916&module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article
www.thestandard.com.hk

Policewoman Lai Ka-ying is Hong Kong’s first to land prestigious space role

A female chief inspector of the Hong Kong Police Force, Lai Ka-ying, has been selected as the city’s first-ever payload specialist in the National Manned Space Program, according to Sing Tao Hea...
www.thestandard.com.hk www.thestandard.com.hk

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That is quick for Chang'e-6 to start collecting samples. I wonder if they will find more evidence of water at the landing site, there has got to be more water on the surface of the Moon. It would be good for the future Mars mission if there was.
 
Chang’e-6 is China’s fourth successful lunar landing from four attempts, and the second on the far side of the moon. It is also the third lunar landing in 2024. It follows Japan’s SLIM in January and Intuitive Machines’ IM-1 Odysseus lander in February.
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Probably time to reflect back a bit on that emphasis on startups as the proponent for western nations space policies.
 
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Grey Havoc said:
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Interesting; I had not known that basalt fiber is a thing, so, after reading the below, I went playing in Google

After collecting the specimens, Chang’e-6 extended a robotic arm to raise the Chinese flag, according to an animation released by CNSA.
The flag, made from the volcanic rock basalt, was designed to resist corrosion and the extreme temperatures on the far side of the moon with an eye on future lunar missions, a Chang’e-6 engineer told state-broadcaster CCTV.
The rock “was crushed, melted and drawn into filaments about one third of the diameter of a human hair, then spun into thread and woven into cloth,” said engineer Zhou Changyi.
“The lunar surface is rich in basalt,” Zhou added. “Since we’re building a lunar base in the future, we will most likely have to make basalt into fibers and use it as building materials.”
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Basalt fiber, made from basalt rock, is able to withstand temperatures up to 1800F/982C. Basalt fiber products are made of 100% continuous-filament, manufactured in thicknesses to suit a broad range of applications including:

• Versatile way to protect structural steel from fire and heat devastation
• Engine exhaust systems
• Hot section heat shields
• Industrial and domestic furnaces
• Turbines
• A safe asbestos replacement
• High sound absorption for noise abatement
• Fire protection/containment in refineries and oil rigs
• Refrigeration insulation Basalt mat/felt provides very low thermal conductivity and can withstand continuous working temperatures in excess of 1500F/816C, making it a flexible material that ensures exceptional high-temperature performance

With excellent drapability, basalt fiber products conform to irregular surfaces to meet a variety of design needs, while its chemical properties make it highly durable and safe.
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And then I found that once again British English and American English do things differently,

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ZjI66JZlk
 
That mission is amazing. The sample return capsule is now heading to a landing spot in Mongolia, June 25. Wonder if the orbiter afterwards will make the same trip to SEL-1 and DRO NRHO as Chang'e 5 did.
 

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