19 January 2022
A team from the Dalian University of Technology in northeastern Liaoning Province has developed a strong ski helmet with space technology originally used on the CZ-5 rocket. Chinese freestyle skiers tested them during their training on aerials and halfpipes.
Helmets and rockets share the same requirements: They must be lightweight and show strong resistance to impact. Scientists took advantage of the rocket's structure and materials to improve skiers' safety. It turned out that the high load-carrying efficiency achieved in space is also very useful for the shock-absorbing capacity of the helmet on the slopes. The research team is applying for a patent and seeking to forge cooperation with enterprises to market the helmet.
MORE...
20 January 2022
The Space Debris Monitoring and Application Centre of the China National Space Administration sent out a warning on an extremely dangerous rendezvous on 18 January between the Tsinghua science satellite and Russia's Cosmos 1408 debris. Experts on space debris told the Global Times on 19 January that the data released showed that there is a high chance of collision between the debris and the satellite.
MORE...
19 January 2022
Landspace's 2-staged methane-liquid oxygen fueled rocket Zhuque 2 is set to make its 1st flight early this year from Jiuquan. Satellite imagery by Planet and Pleiades-1B and deleted social media postings indicate that work is progressing on a new launch complex for commercial launch vehicles at the Jiuquan Launch Centre in Northwest China's Gansu Province. If the launch is successful, Zhuque 2 will become the 1st use of methane-liquid oxygen propellent technology in China, and it will become the 1st liquid rocket developed by a Chinese private company.
MORE...
18 January 2022
The Dongfang Hour new report mentioned in its latest newsletter a paper in "Space Policy" written by American academic and China hand Lincoln R. Hines, released on 15 January. It outlines China’s public opinion towards space, and how it impacts the space sector: "The article finds that China's public is largely supportive of investing in human spaceflight and deep space exploration. The survey also indicates that although respondents view the United States as a competitor and a threat, they favor cooperating with the United States in space exploration. Furthermore, the survey finds that China's public is supportive of international law governing outer space, as well as laws banning the use of space weapons."
link to The Dongfang Hour newsletter from 18 January 2022
link to the paper in Space Policy
15 January 2022
Wang Yaping has become the 1st Chinese female taikonaut to have worked in space for more than 100 days. On 11 June 2013, Wang Yaping went to space on the SZ-10 spaceship with taikonauts Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang and returned on 26 June the same year. She went again on mission on 16 October 2021, on SZ-13 together with astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu. On 7 November 2021, she became China's 1st female spacewalker when she took part in the Shenzhou 13 mission's 1st EVA with mission commander Major General Zhai Zhigang.
MORE...
18 January 2022
The first batch of low-Earth orbit, broadband communication satellites developed by Beijing-based satellite producer GalaxySpace was rolled off the production line and was transported to the launch centre. Launch is expected in the first quarter of 2022. This is the first time that the mass production of LEO broadband communication satellites was accomplished in China. GalaxySpace aims to build its Yinhe satellite internet communication network, capable of providing 5G communication services.
MORE...
RELATED: Company to establish space-based network