Chinese Space News (May 1999)

• [May 28, 1999] Cox Report Released
  A special congressional panel under Republican Representative Christopher Cox released its long-awaited 700-page report Tuesday claiming China stole US secrets of nuclear weapons, space technologies and supercomputers, which China has angrily denied. "This kind of report is surely aimed at poisoning the relations between the two countries," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told a news conference. On the other side, Loral and Hughes, both accused by the report, argues that the Cox committee misinterpreted their actions, and predicted they would be "exonerated of any illegal wrongdoing" when all the facts finally emerge.

• [May 28, 1999] AsiaSat Considers Early Launch of AsiaSat 4
  Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. is considering accelerating the launch of its fourth satellite by a year as demand for its existing transponders increased. Rentals of the company's latest AsiaSat 3S satellite were "much better than expected, reflecting Asia's economic recovery," said Peter Jackson, its chief executive. The strong rentals of AsiaSat 3S may speed up the launch of AsiaSat4, which was originally planned for late 2001. It could now be launched as early as late 2000. AsiaSat is controlled by Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) and China International Trust & Investment Corp.(CITIC). (Lateline News)

• [May 22, 1999] DFH-3: Two Years in Space
  The DFH-3 (ChinaSat-6) communication satellite, launched on May 20, 1997, has worked normally in space for two years. It is China's second generation comsat and the only China made comsat in operation. The satellite is currently in good conditions and its 24 transponders all are in use. During the past two years, it made dozens of station keeping maneuvers and successfuly survived the Leonid meteor storm . The oprational life of DFH-3 is 8 years. (CAST)

• [May 22, 1999] Chinese Manned Launch Uses New Booster
  China is preparing both a two-man spacecraft and a new booster to launch it. Liu Zhixiong, vice president of China Great Wall Industries, said that launch of the spacecraft will not occur before 2000. He said development of a large new Chinese booster using liquid oxygen and kerosene was underway in connection with the vehicle. In addition to the manned flight program, Liu said that China plans, by end of May, to officially split its space industry into two separate competing groups. (AW&ST)

• [May 18, 1999] SJ-5 Works Normally
  The instrument on SJ-5 scientific satellite is working normally, according to CSSAR, Center of Space Science Application Research of Chinese Academy of Science. The space fluid experiment image was received. SJ-5 (Shijian-5) is the first satellite based on CAST968 bus. It weighs 298 kg and the operational life is about 3 months. SJ-5 was designed to test the platform with 3 different attitude control technologies. It also carries instrument for space single particle study, space fluid study, S-band high-speed data transmission and large capacity solid storage experiments. (CSSAR)

• [May 14, 1999] China Sets Timetable for Manned Spacecraft Launch
  China will try to launch its first spacecraft designed to carry taikonauts (astronauts) around October 1. Officials quoted in the Yangcheng Evening News said preparations of a recoverable capsule were far ahead of schedule. The October flight would be unmanned and used to test the technology. But Li Jianzhong, director of the Chinese Academy of Launch-Vehicle Technology, said that a manned launch was "under preparation", and indicated it would follow not far behind the test flight. (BBC, Yangcheng Evening News, CAST)

• [May 14, 1999] Taiwan to Invest in Kistler
  Taiwan's China Development Industrial Bank said on Thursday it would invest US$8 million in U.S.-based Kistler Aerospace Corp's K-1 reusable satellite launcher program. China Development said its board had agreed to help finance the potentially revolutionary launch system once Kistler has raised $142 million in the United States and Taiwan. Taiwan has shown keen interest in the K-1 project. The finance ministry approved seven local banks' joint $50 million investment in K-1 and local media have said Kistler hoped to raise a further $50-200 million in Taiwan in 1999. Kistler has agreed to transfer its technology and set up a joint venture with Taiwan once the technology is mature, local reports said. (Reuters)

• [May 13, 1999] AsiaSat 3S Starts Commercial Service
  AsiaSat 3S, the fourth satellite of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) started commercial services on 8th May, following its launch on 21st March and the successful completion of in-orbit testing. AsiaSat 3S is now operating at the orbital position of 105.5 degrees East and replaces AsiaSat 1. At the service launch, AsiaSat 3S offers 9 analogue and 22 digital television channels including Pakistan TV, CCTV-4 and STAR TV. Traffic transfer from AsiaSat 1 to AsiaSat 3S took place on 8th May. (AsiaSat)

• [May 11, 1999] Clinton OKs Chinese launch for Iridium
  President Clinton removed the last roadblock Monday from the launch of a Chinese rocket carrying a satellite into space next month for the U.S.-led Iridium global paging and telephone network. In a required report to Congress, Clinton certified that the export of satellite fuels and separation systems for the communications system would not harm U.S. interests. The launch is scheduled for June 7. Specifically, Clinton said the exports were not detrimental to the U.S. space launch industry. Further, he said the material and equipment "will not measurably improve the missile or space launch capabilities" of China. (AP)

• [May 11, 1999] Long March 4B Launch: More Details
  Long March 4B rocket is an improved model of Long March 4A with enhanced third stage and fairing. It measures 44.1 metres in length and the first stage thrust is about 300 tonnes. Yesterday's launch is fully successful. The FY-1C satellite was separated from the launcher 749 seconds after launch, and SJ-5, 814 seconds after. Both satellites entered 870 kilometer solar synchronized orbit, and both in good condition.

• [May 10, 1999] First FY-1C Image Received
  The National Satellite Meteorological Center announced today that the FY-1C meteorological satellite is in a good status after coming into the designed orbit. The satellite's VIS images of the first orbit were successfully received by the ground stations located both in Beijing and Urumqi and the quality of the images is fine. The IR channels of the instrument aboard satellite will begin to work 30 days later after the launch. (NSMC)

• [May 10, 1999] China Successfully Launches FY-1C and SJ-5
  A Chinese Long-March 4B rocket has successfully launched two civilian satellites this morning. The rocket was launched at 9:33 a.m. Beijing Time (0133 GMT) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The payload included the FY-1 meteorological satellite and the SJ-5 satellite intended for scientific experiments. This is China's first satellite launch this year and the maiden flight for Long March 4B, a newer version of the Long March 4 with a payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms. (Xinhua, AFP)

• [May 9, 1999] White House Says China Launch Serves U.S. Interest
  A report released May 7 by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence states that U .S. satellite technology transferred to China in 1995 and 1996 has improved Beijing's rockets and missiles. White House released a statement on the report. The statement says the Administration are concerned that unauthorized assistance and transfers of space launch vehicle and satellite technology could assist China in the development of future ballistic missiles. But White House believes that the longstanding policy of permitting the launch of U.S. commercial satellites by China, with strong technology controls, serves United States' overall national interest. (Newswire)

• [May 5, 1999] China Aerospace Split: Further Details
  The split of China Aerospace Corporation (CASC) will result two independent companies: China Space Science & Technology Group and China Space Machinery & Electronics Group (both are unofficial English translation). They will be headed by Wang Liheng and Xia Guohong, both currently are vice-director of CASC. The split plan has been approved by Chinese government, according to the source. The two groups are to be formed and announced probably by end of this month. (Wenhuibao)

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