Landspace's ZQ-2 - China's biggest private rocket - scheduled for flight in 2021
10 September 2020
The Zhuque 2 (ZQ-2) liquid-propellant, medium-lift rocket is now under development at LandSpace in Beijing, one of the leading private rocket makers in China, and several parts to be used on the rocket have been manufactured and delivered, according to a statement from LandSpace. By the end of August, two models of engines that will power the rocket had finished several rounds of ignition tests, the company said on 08 September. To fund the ZQ-2 programme, LandSpace raised 1.2 billion RMB (175 million USD) in its latest round of financing from more than 10 government and private equity funds, achieving the largest-ever fundraising event in China's private space industry.
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Satellite navigation conference to open in SW China
11 September 2020
The China Satellite Navigation Conference 2020 is slated for 23 to 25 November in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, said its organizer on 11 September. Themed "GNSS (global navigation satellite system), New Global Era," this year's conference, postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, will feature seminars, forums, exhibitions and science popularization activities, according to the China Satellite Navigation Office.
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Welcome to the Dongfang Hour Podcast
11 September 2020
The only English podcast discussing Chinese aerospace and technology. Dongfang Hour (literally “Eastern Hour”), is a podcast that dives into the fast-evolving Chinese aerospace and technology sectors. The hosts of Dongfang Hour, Blaine Curcio and Jean Deville, are a consultant/entrepreneur and an aerospace engineer, both based in China. Speaking no less than 5 languages between the two of them, for the benefit of our much appreciated listeners, we will limit discussion to English with some Chinese phrases when necessary. In a stand-alone format or with exceptional and always friendly guests, the Dongfang Hour hopes to bring entertaining yet resourceful, and balanced yet pointed insights from within the Chinese ecosystem.
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Pending verification: milestone achievement in super-fast quantum computing
12 September 2020
Physicist Pan Jianwei, who has led the development of the QUESS-Micius quantum satellite and the construction of the longest quantum communication network from Beijing to Shanghai, announced at a lecture at Westlake University, Hangzhou, on 5 September that his team made significant progress in the development of a super-fast quantum computer. However, initial "out-of-context" media reports about “quantum supremacy”were rejected by Pan and his team. The results were still preliminary, and there was “no 100 per cent guarantee until further verification.”, Pan was quoted as saying in a later statement.
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