China News Service, Beijing, July 17 Question: Demystifying the "most" of the three launch platforms of the "Big Rocket" campaign: positioning accuracy can reach millimeter level
Author Guo Chaokai
On July 17, the Long March 5 Yao-4 carrier rocket, which will carry out China's first Mars exploration mission, completed vertical transfer at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China. It is the "Large Rocket" (Long March 5 Carrier Rocket) mobile launch platform that is responsible for transferring the Long March 5 Yao-4 Carrier Rocket from the vertical test plant to the launch area.
This active launch platform is nearly 30 meters long and more than 20 meters wide. In addition, the umbilical tower is nearly 70 meters high and weighs more than 2,000 tons. The positioning accuracy of the behemoth has reached ±5 mm, setting the three "most" in China.
On July 17, after the completion of the assembly test of the technical zone at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China, the Long March 5 Yao-4 carrier rocket was vertically transferred to the launch area. (Exploration project "Tianwen No. 1" task). Photo courtesy of Zhang Gaoxiang Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration
Largest scale
The scale of the launch platforms of various models in China was developed based on the actual conditions of active launch vehicles. Before the launch of the "Big Rocket" activity launch platform, the launch platform of the Long March 2 F rocket was China's largest launch platform. The launch platform is more than 24 meters long, 22 meters wide, and more than 8 meters high, and can adapt to the core-level arrows with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters.
The "Large Rocket" mobile launch platform newly developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology affiliated to China Aerospace Science and Technology Group is nearly 70 meters high, which is equivalent to the height of 24 floors; Half a basketball court, the entire platform weighs nearly 2000 tons.
It is worth mentioning that the "Large Rocket" active launch platform responsible for the vertical transfer of the Long March V launch vehicle is currently China's largest launch platform with the strongest carrying capacity, the most complex system and the most advanced technology.
On July 17, after the completion of the assembly test of the technical zone at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China, the Long March 5 Yao-4 carrier rocket was vertically transferred to the launch area. (Exploration project "Tianwen No. 1" task). Photo courtesy of Zhang Gaoxiang Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration
Highest integration
From the appearance, the umbilical cord tower of the "Large Rocket" mobile launch platform stands like a guard on the platform, which is not seen on the previous rocket launch platform.
Compared with the previous launch platform, the "Big Rocket" active launch platform also has fewer powered vehicles. "Big Rocket" activity launch platform integrates mechanical, electronic control, hydraulic pressure, power supply and distribution, drive control, air conditioning, environmental protection, environmental monitoring, video surveillance, lighting, filling, gas supply and other systems in one, and it is set for the first time Umbilical cord tower, swing rod, pre-equipment workshop, tail-end service tower, filling pipeline, gas supply pipeline, water spray pipeline and many other equipments. It is a large-scale comprehensive launch platform integrating machine, electricity, liquid and gas. .
What are the benefits of this design by integrating hundreds of ground equipment from the original launch tower on the launch pad? Relevant experts from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology stated that the assembly, testing and interface with the ground equipment can now be completed in the technical plant. During the transportation process, the rocket can keep the interface unchanged and the state unchanged, and transport it directly to the fixed tower. The goal of the researchers is to complete the preparations for launching within three or four days. In this way, the rocket's preparation process at the launch tower can be shortened exponentially.
On July 17, after the completion of the assembly test of the technical zone at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China, the Long March 5 Yao-4 carrier rocket was vertically transferred to the launch area. (Exploration project "Tianwen No. 1" task). Photo courtesy of Zhang Gaoxiang Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration
The most advanced technology
Many people have noticed that on the upper surface of the "Big Rocket" mobile launch platform, there are 12 pillar-shaped support devices, which are the "seat" of the rocket on the launch pad. The developers spent more than three years developing the "twelve-point leveling technology", which allowed the rocket to "sit" straight and stable. This not only gave the rocket a better force, but also facilitated the rocket's aiming and launching.
The general rockets are supported by 4 points, but the "big rocket" is much larger than the previous rockets, and the support points need to be increased. The developers borrowed the "three-point leveling technology" and "four-point leveling technology" to overcome the difficulties of large technical span and difficulty in adjustment, and developed the "twelve-point leveling technology". This technology can achieve complete automatic control. The operator can automatically level the "Big Rocket" within a few minutes with a button, and "sit" on the launch pad.
In addition, the bolts and corresponding loading technology of the "Large Rocket" mobile launch platform are also "advanced." Wenchang Aerospace launch site has high temperature, high humidity, and salty fog, but during the joint training mission, none of the bolts of the "big rocket" activity launch platform rusted. Experts said that this is because the technicians carried out anti-corrosion treatment on the bolts before leaving the factory; a special technique was also used when installing the bolts to prevent the launch platform from loosening the bolts during operation and work, thereby ensuring the bolts’ reliability.
With new technologies like this, there are more than a dozen items on the launch platform of the "Big Rocket" campaign. These new technologies have become the cornerstones to ensure the safety, stability, and reliability of rockets, and have made the "big rocket" activity launch platform far ahead of the existing launch platforms in China. (Finish)