[July 28, 1999] Only European Companies bid on
Apstar-3A/3B A European Comapany may build APT's next
satellites, Apstar-3A and 3B.It is because U.S.
manufacturers need State's approval to bid on a foreign
contract. Permission was not granted fast enough for U.S.
firms to bid on APT Satellite's Apstar-3A/3B. As a result,
only Matra Marconi and Alcatel submitted proposals. (Aviation
Week)
[July 28, 1999] HY-1 Satellite Development Goes
Smoothly HY-1 (Haiyang-1) is China's first ocean
observation satellite and the second small satellite
based on CAST968 bus (the first one is SJ-5). The design
of the satellite and its major subsystems passed the
review recently. An electronical test model is supposed
to be delivered by end of this year.
[July 24, 1999] China Telecom Links to Iridium
System From July 20, all international direct dial (IDD)
fixed-telephone users of China Telecom can directly dial
to any telephone belonging to the iridium system, vice
versa. China launched the business of the iridium system
in May, but before July 20, these mobile-phone users
cannot dial to other phones of China. However, at present
the fee of iridium system mobile phone is too expansive
for ordinary consumers to afford it. For example, you
have to pay 9.8 yuan (USD1.2) for domestic and 27.4 yuan
(USD3.3) for international talks per second, if you use
this system in China. (People's Daily)
[July 24, 1999] China and "Group of 77"
Urge Demilitarization of Outer Space A spokesman for 77 developing countries and
China called for the demilitarization of outer space on
the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration
and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, known as UNISPACE III.
"There is urgent need for the demilitarization of
outer space and a reduction in military-related
activities. We are also concerned with the increased use
of radio-isotopes for power generation in space objects,"
he said. En-Jei Luan, Administrator of the China National
Space Administration(CNSA), attended the two week's
Conference opened on July 19.
[July 20, 1999] More About Yuan Wang 4 The Yuan Wang 4 tracking ship was converted from
the scientific survey ship "Xiang Yang Hong 10"
that was commissioned years before. Chinese reports said
Yuan Wang 4 and other 3 tracking ships will go to "three
major oceans" in a mission later this year. This is
the second time that Chinese official media reports such
a mission. The specification of Yuan Wang 4 is: Length
156.09 m; Breadth (moulded): 20.6 m; Displacement: 10,895
tons.
[July 18, 1999] New Tracking Ship Joins Yuan Wang
Fleet A new space tracking ship, Yuan Wang 4, was
delivered today to the user, China Satellite Launch and
Tracking Control General, by China State Shipbuilding
Corporation(CSSC). This is the 4th tracking ship in China's
Yuan Wang space tracking fleet. (Xinhua)
[July 17, 1999] ROCSAT-2 Contract Faces
Cancellation Taipei may consider canceling a contract it has
signed with Germany's Dornier Satellite System to build
Taiwan's second satellite because Beijing has pressured
the German government to prohibit Dornier from fulfilling
its contract with Taiwan. Dornier was awarded the
contract on Jan. 20 to build the ROCSAT-2 satellite and
one of two payload systems, a remote sensing instrument,
to be installed on it. (CNA)
[July 16, 1999] Manned Program On Track China is on track to launch a manned space
flight by the end of this century or early in the next
century, a leading Chinese scientist said Thursday. Zhang
Lihui, director of research and development at the China
Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), said
development guidelines for manned-space flight technology
were issued by the State Council, China's cabinet, in
1992. "I can tell you here and today, at present
CASC has started, according the requirements of the
guidelines, relevant research in this respect," she
said. A Chinese manned space flight has been rumored for
months, but Zhang's statements were seen as the first
official acknowledgement that a launch was being prepared.
(AFP)
[July 12, 1999] Further SST Details Released Beijing Astronomical Observatory released today
more details of the Space Solar Telescope on its web site.
It reveals that the SST launch has been delayed to 2004-2005
and the launch vehicle will be a Long March 4B, switched
from originally planned the Project 921 launcher. The
spacecraft weighs 2 tonnes and the size is about 5x2x2 m.
Its power supply is 1.2 KW. SST has a 1.0m diameter
telescope using a 2048x1024 CCD camera. Its main optics
system is under development with the cooperation from
Russia. The balloon-borne solar telescope, an
intermediate expriment for the SST, will be launched very
soon. (For detailed specification of the SST, please
go to
the SST website - in Chinese! )
[July 11, 1999] Project 921-2 off the Ground China has initiated the second phase of the
National Manned Space program - Project 921-2. As a major
step after the Project 921, 921-2 focuses on the space
station and other key space technologies. China Academy
of Science (CAS) is a major participator for the "Space
Lab" study. The CAS research team, including six
groups for specific subjects, was established in February,
1999. The preliminary study report was expected to be
reviewed in May this year. Newly grouped Shanghai
Institute for Biological Sciences is also involved in
this national project.
[July 11, 1999] China is Studying TDRSS South-West Institute of Electronic Technology of
China (SWIET) is studying the Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite System (TDRSS). The planned TDRSS includes at
least two geostationary satellites. It will provide 85%
of global coverage and support 5-10 satellites at the
same time. Its data rate is about 150-300Mbps. SWIET is
the major tracking and telemetry systems provider for the
Chinese space program.
[July 9, 1999] Hong Kong Venture Plans Broadband
Satellite System Pacific
Century Group of Hong Kong plans to launch a
satellite constellation that provides global broadband
digital communications. It has been discussed to form a
joint venture with a multi-national company. But Pacific
Century will be a 70% shareholder in the project. The
estimated cost of the project is over 2 billion HK dollar.
(Lianhe Zhaobao)
[July 7, 1999] SST Launch will Use New Rocket China will launch the Space Solar Telescope(SST)
in 2003 using a new launcher that is developed for the
Project 921. There are two available launchers during
that time frame, Huairou Solar Observing Station(HSOS),
Beijing Astronomical Observatory, says. It does not
indicate the launcher is CZ-2F or the new kerosene/LOX
large launcher. Since the launch is set for 2003, the
latter is more likely. HSOS also reveals that they will
build the balloon-borne and ground-mobile solar
telescopes as the intermediate experiment of SST. (HSOS)
[July 5, 1999] Shanghai Supports Manned Program
on Life Science China's largest life science center, Shanghai
Institute for Biological Sciences was established on July
3. The institute, under China Academy of Science(CAS),
combined 10 existing institutes in Shanghai. One of its
main tasks is to support China's national science
projects, including "the National Manned Space
Program", the report said. This is the first time
Chinese official media acknowledged the existence of such
a national program. Previous reports always say China
will send men into space but never mentioned a formal
project. It is probably a signal that China will disclose
the "Project 921". (CNS, SIBS)
[July 2, 1999] New Aerospace Corporations Open
New Web Sites Newly founded China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation and China Aerospace Machinery and
Electronics Corporation (these are official translation
of their names) opened thier new web sites today (see links
page). These two new web sites are hosted by the
SpaceChina.com, which seems two corporations still have
some common operations. The new Chinsese language sites
both have a brief description about the corporation but
rest of the content are simple.
[July 2, 1999] New Space Groups Founded China officially announced the founding of 10
new military industrial groups on July 1. They include
China Space Science and Technology Group and China Space
Machinery and Electronics Group whose predecessor is CASC,
China Aerospace Corporation. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji
attended and addressed the ceremony. (Xinhua)
