Chinese Space News (September - October 1999)

• [October 29, 1999] ZY-1 Image Released
  National Space Research Institute of Brazil (INPE) released the image reveived from the newly launched ZY-1 (CBERS-1) satellite. It is taken by the Wide Field Imager (WFI) onbaord the ZY-1. The picture was gotten in October 21, and recovers a area of 300x300 kilometers in the southwest of the state of Amazon. ZY-1 works well. But Brasil's SACI-1 satellite lost the contact shortly after the launch. (photo credit: INPE)

• [October 29, 1999] Astrium to Win Rocsat-2 Contract
  The new Astrium space company comprising Matra Marconi Space, DASA and space elements of Aerospatiale is set to win the contract to build Taiwan's second Rocsat to be launched in 2003. The first Rocsat was built by TRW. The Rocsat 2 contract is origianlly awarded by Germany's Dornier Satellite System but was cancelled later. (SSC)

• [October 29, 1999] FY-2A Still Works
  China's National Satellite Meteorological Center (NSMC) released lastest images reveived from the FY-2A satellite. It shows the satellite still works well. (NMSC)

• [October 22, 1999] China Targeting Landings on Luna and Mars
  A recent national conference of space scientists held in southern Guangxi province's Beihai city set the landings as the "two big targets" for the country's space programme in the 21st century. "Chinese scientists are in the process of discussing details of the lunar landing (project)," Ye Zili, the China Space Science Association's general secretary, was quoted as saying. He said dozens of plans and proposals for the twin projects had already been put forward. The language of the report left it unclear whether the missions under discussion would be manned or not. (AFP)

• [October 19, 1999] Russia to Help China with Its First Manned Space Mission
  Russia is ready to cooperate with China on the country's first manned space mission, the director of the Russian Space Agency Yury Koptev said Monday, cited by the Interfax news agency. Discussions between the two countries are already underway. Russia had the capability and was ready to help on projects that did not threaten Russian security, presidential advisor Yevgeny Shaposhnikov said in an interview with the Interfax agency Monday. Koptev and Russian vice premier Ilya Klebanov first brought up the possibility of helping the Chinese with their space project at the end of August, during a meeting of the joint commission formed to strengthen Sino-Russian ties. (AFP)

• [October 19, 1999] China and Italy Sign Commercial Launch Agreement
  China will send an Italian-made satellite into orbit in the first half of 2001, which will be a breakthrough in the expansion of its commercial launch service to Europe. According to an agreement signed yesterday in Beijing, the China Great Wall Industry Corp (CGWIC) will take Satelcom, a telecommunications satellite owned by the Rome-based Alenia Aerospazio company, into space aboard a three-stage Long March 3A rocket. Weighing 2.6 tons, the US$100-million Satelcom is a geo-stationary telecommunications satellite to be built on Alenia's Italsat bus with 28 Ku-band transponders on board. It will be the fourth, and the first commercial launch for the Long March 3A. (China Daily)

• [October 19, 1999] Alenia Considers Joint Satellite Development with China
  Alenia is considering joint projects with China including the development of more satellites for earth observation, a common platform for telecommunications and the development of advanced telecommunications systems for tele-medicine and tele-training, China Daily reported. Paolo Bruni, the Italian Ambassador in Beijing, told China Daily in an interview that the Satelcom launch contract signing is just the beginning of Italian-Sino collaboration in the aerospace sector. "We can develop satellites together to foster bilateral research and development," he said. (China Daily)

• [October 14, 1999] Ziyuan-1 Launch Successful
  Chinese-Brazilian resource satellite Ziyuan-1 (ZY-1, or CBERS-1) and Brazilian small satellite SACI-1 was successfully launched into space today by a Long March 4B rocket from Taiyuan. The launch happened at 11:16am Beijing time. 22 minutes and 40 seconds later, ZY-1 was separated from the rocket followed by SACI-1 separation about 25 minutes later. Both satellites entered the solar synchronized orbit with inclination of 98 degree and altitude of 761/763km. The ground station in Nanning has received the signal from ZY-1. (INPE)

• [October 13, 1999] FY-2 May Have Been Lost Again
  For the second time, China's first geostationary meteorological satellite FY-2A stop to send signals. The last image was received on September 30. It is not clear whether the control center still has contact with the satellite. The first time FY-2A stopped transmission in April 1998 and resumed work in December. China plans to send another FY-2 to replace FY-2A in the first half of next year. (Note: FY-2A is its official designation. However the name FY-2B has been used widely including this site. I have changed its name to FY-2A in all pages on this site)

• [October 9, 1999] More Detail About CZ-4(8S)
  Shanghai Academy of Space Technology(SAST) is developing an enhanced version of CZ-4, the CZ-4(8S), that is to become operational in 2001. Eight FG-19A solid strap-on boosters will be added to its first stage and ignited at lift off. Each solid booster, 7.6m long, develops a thrust of 500 kN during 70 seconds. CZ-4(8S) will be able to launch up to 7800kg into 300km circular orbit and put up to 2677kg into GTO. (Spaceflight magazine)

• [October 9, 1999] China to Launch Another FY-2 Next Year
  Shanghai TV (STV) reported yesterday that China will launch the second FY-2 geostationary meteorological satellite in the first half of next year. The new satellite will replace the first FY-2 that was launched in May 1997. FY-2 has an operational life of two years. The video shows the new FY-2 is under assembly.

• [October 6, 1999] ZY-1 Launch Date Moves Ahead
  The ZY-1 and SACI-1 satellites could be launched one day before planned, if the weather conditions allow. The new launch date has been set for October 14. The launch window is from 11:26 local time. The satellites are now on the Long March 4B rocket. The final rocket/satellites test is ongoing. (INPE)

• [October 6, 1999] China Transfers TT&C Technology to Brazil
  China delivered a full package of satellite telemetry, tracking and control software to Brazil's National Space Research Institute(INPE) in early October. The software system will be used to operate Chinese-Brazilian resource satellite Ziyuan-1, or CBERS-1. Its launch is now scheduled on October 14. China will also provide training and complete documents for operating the system in Brazil. It is the first time Chine transfer space technology to a foreign country (Huashen News)

• [October 4, 1999] Hainan Spaceport Project is Likely to be Approved
  Chinese government is seriously assessing the Hainan Commercial Spaceport project (see June news for the proposal), said Long Lehao, vice director of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). Long pointed out that Hainan spaceport has many advantages over 3 existing launch sites. Rockets from there would carry 6-7% more payloads than from Xichang and 11-12% more than from Jiuquan. It is safer and is very suitable for future large launchers because of its location near the sea. He reveals that the project has gotten strong support from Hainan local government and would include investment from Hong Kong or Japan. (Huashen News)

• [September 30, 1999] Update on Ziyuan-1 Launch
  The launch is scheduled at 11:26am Beijing Time on October 15. Two satellites, Ziyuan-1 (CBERS-1) and Brazilian mini-satellite SACI-1, have finished final tests and will be mounted on the Long March 4B in the first several days of October. The countdown will start soon depending on the meteorological conditions, which is also flexible to delay the launch till October 16.

• [September 28, 1999] Small Satellite Seminar in Shanghai
  The Small Satellite Application Seminar was held in Shanghai on September 24. Attendees from Chinese industry, academy and government organisations discussed small satellite applications on communication and earth observation in China. The small satellite team from China Academy of Sciences (CAS) reported the experiences on newly launched SJ-5 satellite and the progress on "Chuang Xing 1" (Creation-1) small satellite project. OrbComm from U.S. also presented their ORBCOMM small communication satellite constellation and its application.

• [September 23, 1999] China Great Wall Sets New Goals
  The primary mission of China's aerospace industry in the new millennium is to provide in-orbit delivery and earth station services, said Zhang Xinxia, president of China Great Wall Industrial Corp (CGWIC). "The CGWIC will serve as an in-orbit delivery supplier, meaning it will send China-made satellites atop Chinese carriers into the preset orbits for overseas users, and provide after-launch services," Zhang said. It is significant considering that US alleged China stole its sensitive technology and banned launching of US-made satellites. Zhang also said the CGWIC is in active discussions with satellite manufacturers and users in Europe and Asia. He added that it is important for China to develop its commercial launch services beyond the American and Asia-Pacific market. (China Daily)

• [September 9, 1999] Space Train Departs
  A train dubbed "Mobile Space Museum" leaves Beijing on September 7. The museum train is to stay in more than 40 cities over China during its 2 years tour. Visitors will have a chance to closely watch various Chinese made missiles, rockets and satellites carried by the train. A DFH-1 satellite and a Long March 1 launch vehicle are reportedly to be exhibited. (CNS)

• [September 3, 1999] ZY-1 Launch Set for October 14
  ZY-1 Resource satellite is now in final testing in China's Taiyuan Launch Center. The testing is going smoothly and so far has no unexpected abnormalities. The Long March 4B launch for ZY-1 (CBERS-1) and SACI-1 has been set for October 14 tentatively. (INPE)

• [September 3, 1999] ApStar-3,4,5 Planned
  APT Satellite Holdings Limited, Hong Kong today announced the unaudited interim results of the Company and its subsidiaries for the six months ended 30th June, 1999. Its consolidated net profit amounted to HK$23,353,000, representing decreases 33% over the corresponding period in 1998. Despite shrinking satellite transponder supply in the Asia-Pacific region, the company will continue to develop the new businesses as well as other planned satellite projects. APT has scheduled to develop APSTAR-III, APSTAR-IV (the Direct Broadcasting Satellites), as well as APSTAR-V, the high-power satellite which will replace APSTAR-I that is set to expire in 2004. (APT)

• [September 2, 1999] Beijing's Space Museum Woos Visitors
  More than 400,000 people have visited the Chinese Space Museum located in southern Beijing since it opened to the public in 1992. China is now capable of developing and launching all kinds of man-made satellite and carrier rockets, as well as carrying out space probes and satellite retrieval. The museum's 5,000-square-meter exhibition hall displays real satellites, rockets and models depicting the different periods in the nation's space industry. (Xinhua)

HOME | EMAIL