17 June 2020
China's building of its space-based solar power station (SSPS) has achieved a new milestone, as a research team with Xidian University announced recently that the ground recipient verification system has passed examination. The ground verification system is the world's first of its kind for a full-chain, full-system SSPS, successfully passed examinations on 5 June, making breakthroughs in multiple key technologies including high-efficiency light concentrating and photoelectric conversion, microwave conversion, microwave emission and waveform optimization, microwave beam pointing measurement and control, microwave reception and rectification, and smart mechanical structure design.
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17 June 2020
Yangwang 1 commercial space telescope has completed an optical survey of the whole sky. The telescope, launched on 11 June 2021, was developed by Shenzhen-based Origin Space Technology Co., Ltd. for asteroid resource exploration and research. So far, Yangwang 1 carried out sky survey observation, atmospheric luminous observation, night remote monitoring and asteroid observation. The spatial resolution of the nighttime images is under 30 m. Origin Space plans to build a constellation in the future, which will be composed of multiple multi-band space telescopes. The first phase of the network with 10 satellites is expected to be completed in 2023.
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17 June 2020
A three-stage engine of China's new generation manned carrier rocket will go to prototype sample development, according to the CASC. The long-distance and multiple ignition tests of the engine have been successfully completed, indicating that it is ready to enter the next stage of prototype sample development. The test examined the key technologies including the state of the engine and components, working reliability of the ignition system, and the real-time fault diagnosis system.
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14 June 2022
China's deep-space exploration laboratory has started operation, CNSA said on 14 June. Co-established by CNSA, Anhui Province and the University of Science and Technology of China, the laboratory is headquartered in Hefei, capital of Anhui. Various preparatory work was completed and substantial operation and comprehensive construction has begun. At the end, the laboratory will become a large-scale, national-level comprehensive research base, as well as an innovation hub with global influence. Wu Weiren, Chief Designer of China's lunar exploration programme and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, was selected as the director of the laboratory. The laboratory is expected to carry out science and technology research focusing on major national projects in the field of deep-space exploration.
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17 June 2022
An in-situ detection by the Chang'e 5 lunar probe and the subsequent analysis of its returned samples revealed at least 2 sources of water on the Moon, one brought by solar wind and the other from indigenous sources. It's traditionally proposed that the lunar water was implanted by solar wind or the result of a meteorite or comet impact. Also, minerals like apatite containing indigenous water are believed to be present in small quantities and unevenly distributed on the lunar surface. Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found new evidence of water on the lunar surface based on CE-5 in-situ spectra and lab results of returned samples. Their findings revealed that the apatite found at the young mare region where CE-5 landed contained indigenous water in the form of hydroxyl.
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07 June 2022
Mark Hilborne, Defense Studies lecturer at King's College London, is answering questions by DW News. He is assessing which benefits space activities might bring to China and the prospects of Russia-China space cooperation.
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