[April 30, 1999] China Aerospace to be Split
A new wave of reform will change China's defense industry
significantly. The current five defense groups including
China Aerospace each is to be split into two independent
companies. The plan was announced recently by Liu jibin,
the director of COSTIND, Commission of Science,
Technology, & Industry for National Defense. The goal
of the reform is to make these companies more market
oriented and competitive. The government will be free of
the direct management of these companies. (Huashen News)
[April 30, 1999] New Article about Chinese Manned
Program
Mark Wade's Encyclopedia
Astronautica website published an
article by E.P. Grondine that includes some early
Chinese taikonaut(astronaut) photos and two manned
spacecraft drawings based on Chinese publications and
reports. The article reviews the history of Chinese
manned program since 70s. There are also some interesting
descriptions or speculations in the article. For example,
the rumor about a failed manned launch in late 70s,
though unlikely.
[April 23, 1999] China Orient Plans Two More
Satellites
China Orient Telecomm Satellite Co Ltd, whose ChinaStar-1
went into operation last July, is considering initiating
two more satellite projects "at an appropriate
time". "As the telecommunications market
expands and the economies hit by the Asian crisis
begin to pick-up, the demand for satellite services is
expected to surge," said Hao Weimin, president of
China Orient. Hao declined to give a timetable for the
launch of the new satellites, or say whether they would
be manufactured by a US, European or Chinese company.
"We will focus on the performance and price of the
satellites," Hao said. China Orient, one of three
companies that owns and operates satellites in mainland
of China, celebrated its fourth anniversary yesterday.
(China Daily)
[April 21, 1999] ZY-1 Launch Delays Again Problems with the Iridium satellite, which would
be launched from China, will postpone the launch of the
first Chinese-Brazilian Earth Resources Satellite
(CBERS-1, or ZY-1) from July to September or October,
1999. Luiz Antonio Bueno, INPE's manager, said that the
launch must take place until October because the
Chinese launch facility (Taiyuan) will be temporarily
closed between November, 1999 and April, 2000. Brazil
holds a 30% interest in CBERS, which will cost around
US$400 million. (Gazeta Mercantil)
[April 20, 1999] China Develops New Version of
CZ-4 The Shanghai Academy of
Spaceflight Technology (SAST) is developing an improved
version of the CZ-4 vehicle with 8 solid strap-on
boosters. The new launcher, named CZ-4 (8S) would be
able to loft 2,670 kg to geostationary transfer
orbit and 7,800 kg to low Earth orbit. First flight
is scheduled in 2001. (The Orbital Report)
[April 14, 1999] APMT Cancels Contract with
Hughes Asia-Pacific Mobile Telecommunications (APMT)
has terminated its contract with Hughes Space and
Communications Co. to build a $450 million
satellite-based mobile telephone system to serve
Southeast Asia. Hughes was unable to secure the necessary
U.S. export licenses for the program in a timely manner.
The contract, which was finalized in May 1998, called for
Hughes to design and build a turnkey system that included
one geosynchronous mobile communications satellite, one
spare satellite, supporting ground facilities, and an
initial purchase of 70,000 user terminals. The first
satellite was to be launched in 2000 by a Long March 3B.
(BUSINESS WIRE)
[April
13, 1999] China's Shuttle Research Disclosed Information from the '98 Zhuhai Airshow reveals
that China is doing serious hypersonic vehicle research, The
Heritage Foundation's Web site reported. A brochure
of the Beijing Institute of Aerodynamics (BIA) shows a
test model of what appears to be an unmanned space
shuttle similar to Japan’s Hope, though it is hard
to determine whether it represents a serious program.
Another picture from BIA shows a possible re-entry
capsule for Chinese manned spacecraft. The Heritage
website also published several other photographs obtained
from Zhuhai including the Smart Dispenser for Iridium,
CZ-2EA, taikonaut training and the Chinese space food
(More pictures, see Gallery).
[April 8, 1999] Kistler eyes Taiwan and Hong Kong United States-based Kistler Aerospace is looking
to Hong Kong and Taiwan to help raise US$145 million to
begin test flights of its re-usable rocket launcher.
Kistler chairman Robert Wang, who was raised in Hong
Kong, said the company needed $45 million to complete the
first of two launch-tower facilities in Australia and
$100 million for final assembly of its fleet of rockets.
Its first rocket is now 80 per cent complete and a test
launch has been scheduled for the start of next year.
Recently, Northrop Grumman injected $30 million in
Kistler with a further $30 million to be invested.
Kistler plans to have a fleet of five re-usable rockets
within three years - the second launch vehicle is 20 per
cent complete. ( South China Morning Post)
[April 4, 1999] Export Reviews Delay ChinaSat-8 Loral Space & Communications Ltd. said
launch of a satellite it built for China is being delayed
because of new federal reviews, meaning the company might
have to pay as much as $174 million in refunds, penalties
and other costs. The company said its failure to deliver
the ChinaSat-8 satellite as agreed this month raises the
possibility that its sale agreement could be terminated.
(The Wall Street Journal)
[April 2, 1999] China to Seek Ways to Participate
ISS China is making plans to participate major
international scientific projects including the
International Space Station. Wang Chaoqi, an official of
Ministry of Science and Technology said. He said China is
still outside these projects, which does not meet China's
long term interests. (Huasheng News)
[April
13, 1999] China's Shuttle Research Disclosed