The news that China is developing a space plane has been fermented for more than ten years. China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation stated a few years ago that it will achieve its first flight in 2020. Space planes refer to space shuttles, which can travel through outer space and the Earth’s atmosphere like an airplane, and can be reused. They are considered the key to seizing space rights in the future. The "big head" on the left of
was used to launch the space plane
On September 4, China successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft with the Long March 2 F carrier arrow at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The aircraft will be in space Fly for a period of time and will return to the scheduled landing field like an airplane. Since China's new-generation manned spacecraft weighs more than 20 tons, it can only be launched with the Long March 5 rocket, indicating that the reusable spacecraft for this launch can only be an aerospace aircraft. The successful entry of a space plane developed for many years into outer space means that China has become the second country after the United States to have a space plane.
"Reusable" spacecraft refers to aircraft that can repeatedly "launch, get into orbit, derail and return to the ground", except for manned spacecraft, only space planes (space planes). The space shuttle is the most typical reusable spacecraft ever used in the United States. Due to the high technical risk and low payload, it has caused several major stories. In the end, the manned spacecraft was replaced with a "dragon" spacecraft. Now the US military uses the X-37 to perform secret missions in outer space, which has become the biggest backing for dominating space.
Previously, the X-37B equipped by the United States was the only space plane in the world that could return home automatically. The longest flight was 712 days in outer space, and the speed could reach 25 times the speed of sound. Although X-35B is unique in the world, it is really small. The aircraft has an empty weight of only 3.5 tons and a load of nearly 5 tons, which is about the size of a J-7. However, the United States has the right to dominate space because of the X-35B. The aircraft can strike any hostile country’s aircraft in low-Earth orbit, and can also launch conventional weapons in outer space known as the "Scepter of God". Can hit any target on the ground.
In comparison, although the space plane launched by China with the Long March II F rocket is a test model, the total weight may exceed the X-35B. The carrying capacity of the Long March 2 F rocket is 8.8 tons, which shows that the Chinese aerospace aircraft is similar in size to the F-35B. The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation has stated that the Chinese version of the space plane uses hybrid power. It can use ramjet propulsion during suborbital flight, can use a rocket vacuum engine to enter the earth orbit, or fly in the atmosphere like an airplane. In other words, the Chinese Aerospace Aircraft has the same functions as the X-37B. It can perform long-term missions in outer space after being launched by a rocket, and then return like an airplane, which can be reused after precise recovery.
As early as 2011, a domestic TV station broadcasted the news of "China's successful test flight of a transatmospheric aircraft", but did not disclose more details. This aircraft may be a "Shenlong" transatmospheric aircraft. By 2012, it was reported that China was developing an unmanned space aircraft similar to the X-37B, breaking through a number of key technologies including rocket engines. By 2017, the leader of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation stated: “The ground tests of a number of key technologies such as the engines of the new generation of space shuttles have been completed. Sky Aircraft will complete its first flight in 2020.
In fact, before the launch of this rocket, foreign websites believed that the Long March 2F rocket’s launcher had undergone significant modifications and would launch a wider payload, which is likely to be a space plane similar to the X-37B. Launching unmanned space aircraft with rockets can be a useful supplement to manned spaceflight and is the first step in China's aerospace aircraft development plan.
Previously, China also disclosed a technical solution for a large aircraft to carry aerospace aircraft, that is, a mother aircraft composed of two aircraft, and the upper spacecraft is sent into orbit by the aircraft below. This means that China is still developing a revolutionary "air and sky plane" that can take off at ordinary airports and send spacecraft to orbit. Of course, this technology is very difficult, and it should be a goal that needs to be achieved in the next few decades. In addition, China will also develop aerospace aircraft that can carry people, called the "Tengyun Project", which can take people to space tourism, transport astronauts, etc., and can also launch various satellites to serve as a space station.Transport goods, etc. In short, this historic leap has just begun.
