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On August 5, 2022, China successfully launched a reusable test spacecraft using the Long March-2F carrier rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It is speculated that this is the second test flight opened by the Shenlong aerospace aircraft of China's Tengyun Project.
(i) Tengyun Project and Dragon Aerospace Aircraft
Tengyun Project is an air-space round-trip flight project started by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation in 1986. Its mission is to develop a new type of orbiter, which can glide and land in the atmosphere and fly in low-orbit spaceflight above the atmosphere. This kind of aircraft is also called a space plane, codename: Shenlong.
Its main goal is to design and build China's first space-space shuttle aircraft that can take off horizontally, land horizontally and be reused multiple times by 2030.
Shenlong space vehicle model
As shown in the figure above, the working principle of Shenlong is: the first-stage carrier aircraft carries the second-stage space aircraft to take off from the ground horizontally, and can be reused many times. After the first-stage vehicle flies through the atmosphere, the second-stage vehicle separates and ignites into space.
Shenlong can carry both people and goods. Manned functions can meet the needs of space tourism, transporting astronauts and more. The cargo function can be used for satellite launch, space station cargo replenishment, and space emergency rescue.
(ii) The difference between space and space shuttles
Shenlong has functional similarities with the space shuttle in the United States. They are all capable of performing tasks in low Earth orbit and can return to the ground independently, which is a reusable orbital spacecraft. They also have similarities in appearance. However, there are four distinct differences between the two:
(1) In terms of appearance, it looks similar but does not look alike
The Space Shuttle was relatively large. For example, the main body of the US space shuttle is 37.2 meters long, 17.27 meters high, and the wingspan is 29.79 meters; it is divided into three floors, which can accommodate 8 people. With a length of 18.3 meters and a diameter of 4.6 meters, the cargo compartment can carry 24 tons of cargo into space and 19.5 tons of cargo back to the ground.
Space planes are much smaller. Take the American space plane X-37B, for example, which is 8.8 meters long, 2.9 meters wide and has a wingspan of 4.6 meters. The cargo hold is narrow and can carry about 2 tons. Therefore, the space plane can only be regarded as a scaled-down version of the space shuttle.
(2) The uses are very different
The Space Shuttle is mainly used for space exploration and to transport between space and the ground. In addition to undertaking similar tasks, aerospace aircraft can also flexibly shuttle between major cities around the world to carry out the transportation of goods or personnel; And it can be used for reconnaissance, long-range strikes and bombing, and compete for air and sky supremacy.
(3) There are also differences in the launch method
Space shuttle launches can only be launched vertically using rocket launchers; Aerospace aircraft can be launched vertically by rockets or horizontally on heavy aircraft, with a more flexible launch method.
(4) The power system is very different
The shuttle was equipped only with rocket engines; Space planes are equipped with both special aircraft engines and rocket engines, which can fly in anaerobic conditions in space or switch to aircraft engines after entering the atmosphere.
Space shuttle ignition launch
(iii) X-37B space plane under test by the United States
In 1986, the United States proposed a space plane codenamed X-30, and then developed X-33, X-34, X43 and other models. On April 22, 2010, the first X-37B was launched for sea trials, and in the next three launches, the X-37B continued to break time-of-flight records.
In May 2020, the X-37B was launched again.
X-37B space plane
After 908 days of flight, returned to Kennedy Space Center on November 12, 2022.
X-37B space plane
In addition to conventional space missions, the X-37B space aircraft can also take military operations such as controlling, capturing and destroying satellites and other spacecraft of other countries, as well as military reconnaissance and attack ground targets against other countries.
(iv) Dragon Aerospace Aircraft in China's test
In March 1986, China launched the Dragon Dragon Aerospace Aircraft Project.
Model of Shenlong aerospace aircraft
On September 4, 2020, China conducted the first test flight of the Dragon Aerospace Aircraft. The Long March-2F carrier rocket carrying the Shenlong Aerospace Aircraft was successfully launched, and the Shenlong Aerospace Aircraft landed at Lop Nur Military Airport on September 6.
Imaginary diagram of Shenlong
On August 5, 2022, China conducted the second test flight of the Dragon Dragon Aerospace Aircraft. At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Long March-2F carrier rocket carrying the Shenlong Aerospace Aircraft was successfully launched.
China is testing the Shenlong space plane
The latest data shows that Shenlong flies at an altitude of 338 kilometers to 610 kilometers above the ground, and has strong maneuverability.
The length of the Shenlong hanging under the belly of the Chinese H-6K bomber is about one-sixth of the length of the H-6K, and the H-6K is 34.8 meters long, from which it is estimated that the length of this Shenlong is about 6 meters.
Shenlong hangs under the belly of a Chinese H-6K bomber
The design of the Dragon has a maximum air dwell time of 800 days, and has an ultra-high-speed orbit change capability, with a maximum speed of Mach 25.
At present, after nine months of continuous flight, the Chinese space plane has successfully returned to the base from outer space.
China is testing the Shenlong space plane