HELSINKI — China’s human spaceflight agency says the country’s business rocket corporations could launch low-cost cargo missions in the longer term.
The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) opened a call for proposals for a low-cost cargo transportation system to produce the Tiangong space station in May this 12 months. 4 from a complete of 10 submitted proposals meeting requirements were chosen to proceed to the detailed design study phase in September.
Despite submissions from business corporations, the chosen proposals got here from entities belonging to state-owned enterprises.
Nonetheless, a variety of the proposals chosen opted for launch solutions from business rocket corporations, Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of CMSEO, said at a pre-launch press conference for the upcoming Shenzhou 17 crewed mission at Jiuquan spaceport, Oct. 25.
“Each of those corporations is developing rockets with a carrying capability of 4 tons to six tons [to low Earth orbit],” Lin said. “The general cost performance may be very high.”
Lin added that these are expected to take part in the following phase of business procurement of the low-cost cargo program.
Chinese business launch corporations developing rockets on this payload capability range or beyond include Landspace (Zhuque-2, already flown), Space Pioneer (Tianlong-3), Galactic Energy (Pallas-1) and Orienspace (Gravity-1).
Tomas Hrozensky, a senior research fellow on the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), told SpaceNews earlier this 12 months that the CMSEO program is a transparent indication that China is in search of to copy the approach which yielded NASA a significant success.
“By more actively embracing business participation, China appears to verify the increasingly recognized advantages of such an approach in stimulating technological innovation of their space industry, and thru this also enhancing their space capabilities at large,” Hrozensky said.
The Chinese government opened up parts of the space sector to non-public capital in late 2014. The move is seen to be a response to developments within the U.S., notably the emergence of SpaceX and Planet.
Lunar rover solicitation
Lin also stated that CMSEO had solicited proposals for a lunar rover for the country’s crewed lunar missions. China is aiming to land a pair of astronauts on the moon before 2030.
He stated that universities, automotive enterprises and scientific research institutions had formed joint teams to perform design work.
Greater than 40 entities formed 14 joint teams to submit formal intentions, Lin said. Of the submitted proposals, 11 teams have passed the primary round review and proceed for further evaluation.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is likewise working with Toyota to develop a pressurized lunar rover.
CMSEO is pleased to see business space corporations developing rapidly and are actively engaging in human spaceflight activities, Lin stated.
China is planning to expand Tiangong with further modules. Additionally it is taking a look at opening the station to business uses including tourism.
Shenzhou 17 is attributable to launch on a Long March 2F rocket at 11:14 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 25 (0314 UTC, Oct. 26) from Jiuquan. It is predicted to succeed in Tiangong 6.5 hours later.