China News Service, Beijing, February 27th (Ma Shuaisha and Wang Bing) On February 27th, at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, the Long March 8 (referred to as "Changba") Yao-2 carrier rocket was ignited and lifted into the sky, piercing the sky. It has successfully completed the debut of a new generation of launch vehicles in 2022.
From "big single room" to "small three-bedroom"
"This mission launched 22 satellites at a time, setting a new record for my country's launch of multiple satellites with one rocket," said Chen Xiaofei, deputy chief designer of the First Changba Rocket.
In order to ensure the safety and accuracy of the multi-satellite launch, the design team adopted the "partition layout" model, adjusted the traditional "large single room" to "small three-bedroom", and developed a new "three-layer multi-satellite distributor" structure. The overall layout of the structure is optimized to ensure that the 22 satellites can be distributed and separated.
If you look carefully, you can also find that the Changba Haruka 2 rocket has been replaced with a shorter fairing.
Wouldn't it be easier to directly use the fairing of the Changba Yaoyi rocket?
In fact, the design team also has multiple considerations in this regard.
Chen Xiaofei pointed out that from a technical point of view, the satellite for this mission is smaller in size and less heavy in weight, and does not require a fairing as large as a Changbayaoyi rocket.
In addition, in terms of aerodynamic shape, a shorter fairing can reduce the load, relax the rocket launch and release conditions, improve the rocket launch probability, and lay the foundation for subsequent high-density launches.
The new configuration of "polished rod" "does multiple things with one stone"
The Changbayao II rocket was developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
What is the difference between the Changba Yaoyao 2 rocket and the Changba Yaoyao 1 rocket?
From the appearance, the Changba Yao-2 rocket lacks two boosters. This is a new configuration of the Changba rocket, and it is also a type of rocket specially built for future market demand.
Hu Huibiao from the Project Office of the First Dean and Eight Rockets said that the use of the new configuration this time will achieve "multiple benefits".
First, at the beginning of the design of the Chang-8 rocket, the two states of booster and no booster were taken into account. This mission can test the correctness, coordination and matching of the new configuration, which is very helpful for developing the medium-sized main rocket market. significant.
Second, although the Changbayao 2 rocket has 22 stars in one arrow, the total load is less than 2 tons. The capacity of the new "bare rod" configuration is 3 tons, which can fully meet the load requirements.
The third is that the mission time is tight, and the reduction of two boosters can ease the pressure on production, final assembly and testing, shorten the development cycle, and reduce development costs.
Fourth, it can accumulate successful samples for the Chang 8 rocket, promote the model to mature, lay a solid foundation for the subsequent entry into the main battlefield of space launch, and consolidate the initiative of the Long March 8 in the commercial aerospace field.
New "Shared Launch" Mode
The large satellites launched in the past generally take 2 to 3 years to be put into production. This time, the launch of the Changba rocket is tight, and the large satellites cannot be developed in time. The Changba rocket team shifted its attention to the small satellites.
Hu Huibiao pointed out that by the end of last year, there were more than 80 satellite units registered in China, of which small satellites occupied a major share, which has great potential in the future commercial market.
However, if only one small satellite weighing 300 to 400 kilograms is hit in a mission, it will be too wasteful for the capabilities of the Changba rocket.
To this end, the Changba rocket team proposed a new model of "shared launch", where multiple small satellites "carpool" to complete the task, which can not only give full play to the rocket's capabilities, but also effectively meet the market demand.
For more than half a year, the Chang 8 rocket team traveled around to screen out satellites that meet the launch conditions from more than 20 satellite units.
Due to the different market demands of satellite development units, after repeated iterations and full consideration of satellite funding, development progress, orbital requirements, launch time and other requirements, the team finally determined 22 satellites for 7 units.
An arrow will be sent in the shortest 7 days in the future
"In the future, the demand for human beings to enter space is increasing, and the demand for space infrastructure construction is increasing. Therefore, it is urgent to change the launch site process and shorten the rocket development cycle." said Xiao Yun, commander-in-chief of the Long March 8 launch vehicle.
It is reported that the fastest time for the final assembly of the Changba rocket is 23 days. However, after the final assembly is transported from the Tianjin plant to the launch site, the installation of pyrotechnics and unit testing are still required, which takes a long time.
If the final assembly test workshop is built near the launch site, the launch site test and the factory test are combined into one, and the rocket is assembled and tested directly on the tower to prepare for launch, which can save a series of testing, inspection, and transfer steps. The cycle of the large compression rocket at the launch site is adapted to the future market demand for the rapid launch of the Changba rocket.
At present, the construction of the final assembly test plant in Hainan has begun, and the launch station is also in the process of demonstration.
At that time, a Changba rocket launch will be achieved in seven days, and 50 rounds can be launched in a year.
(over)