[March 30, 1998] Chinese Astronauts Finished
Training in Russia Two Chinese astronauts have finished the
training in Russia and returned to China recently. They
will be the instructors in China's own astronaut training
program, Guanzhou Daily reported today. It implied the
first manned spacecraft will take off as early as in next
year when People's Republic of China celebrates its 50
years birthday. Chinese manned space program include the
manned spacecraft based on its recoverable satellite
technology and a small space station composed of two
modules. The newspaper also reported that the largest
thermal vacum test equipment in Asia has finished
construction.
[March 26, 1998] Apstar 1A Hit by Mysterious
Signal from Ground A mysterious signal has hit one of the
transmitters aboard the Apstar-1 telecommunications
satellite on March 14, disrupting more than 400
securities companies' communication, cutting off service
to more than 10 million pager users in China and
affecting China's earthquake monitoring systems.
Technicians had ruled out a problem with the satellite
and tests showed the interference was earth-based.
Service had been restored to most users of the satellite
by switching them to other channels. Apstar-1, the first
comsat of Hong Kong based APT Satellite Holdings, was
launched in 1994 by a Long March 3.
[March 26, 1998] Long March 2C/SD Launched Two
Iridiums Successfully A Long March 2C/SD lifted off at 17:01 GMT,
March 25 (1:01 Beijing time, March 26) from the Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center in China. Two Iridium satellites
were successfully released from the vehicle about 50
minutes after launch. They will join the 49 operational
Iridium spacecraft already in space. After last four
launhes by Delta, Proton and another Long March in this
and next month, Iridium will make its commercial debut on
Sept. 23 to provide global cellular telephone service.
[March 25, 1998] Iridium Launch Postponed Due to unfavorable upper level winds, the launch
of two Iridium satellites by a Long March 2C/SD rocket
has been postponed. A new launch attempt is tentatively
scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 1:01 a.m. Beijing
time (17:01 p.m. GMT, March 25). The Long March 2C/SD
will be launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
in China.
[March 24, 1998] China's Launch Schedule This
Year China is set to launch two Iridium satellites
using the Long March-2C/SD rocket from Taiyuan early
Wednesday. China also announced more launches in 1998
including a Sino-Brazilian earth resources survey
satellite, CBERS-1 (or ZY-1) by a LM4B rocket,
Chinastar-1, built by the Lockheed-Martin for China
Oriental Telecom Satellite Company Ltd, French
Aerospatiale-built Sinosat-1 for an official Chinese
client, and ChinaSat-8, China's biggest satellite yet,
weighing four tonnes, built by the Space Systems/Loral,
for China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corp,
ChinaSat, under the former ministry of posts and
telecommunications. Chinastar-1, Sinosat-1 and Chinasat-8
are to be launched by LM3B.
[March 24, 1998] APMT Project Still Alive Hughes said it is still discussing with APMT,
Asia Pacific Mobile telecommunications, to build a
HS-601HP satellite to provide mobile communications in
Asia-Pacific region, however they are not under contract
yet. The launch of first APMT satellite was planned in
1998 but it is not sure whether the program was affected
by recent Asia finnacial crisis. APMT is made up by China
Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General, China
Aero-Space Corp., China Unicom Satellite
Telecommunications Co. Ltd., China Telecommunications
Broadcast Satellite Corp., Singapore Telecom and
Singapore Technologies Telemedia.
[March 24, 1998] China is Developing Proton Class
Launcher China is developing the next generation of
rockets capable of carrying payloads of 20 tonnes, Xinhua
quoted Xu Dazhe, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of
Launch Vehicle Technology, as telling an international
meeting of space scientists in Beijing last week.
"China must strive to produce space vehicles at the
earliest possible date in order to keep pace with the
international trends in the development of space
technology and accommodate the launch of larger
communications satellites", Xu said. So far, the
most powerful of China's Long March series of rockets
could carry 11 tonnes.
[March 23, 1998] New book: The Chinese Space
Program PRAXIS/Wiley this week published a new book: The
Chinese space programme - from conception to future
capabilities by Brian Harvey. This book traces how
the Chinese space programme was built by scientists
expelled from the United States in the 1950s. It
records the development of the first indigenous modern
Chinese rockets and early plans to orbit an earth
satellite, interrupted by the great leap forward and then
the cultural revolution. The book describes the
orbiting of the first Chinese satellite, the Dong Fang
Hong, in 1970 and the subsequent development by China of
communications, weather and other scientific
satellites. There is an account of China's launch
sites, rockets, space infrastructure and tracking
system. The book examines the commercialization of
the rocket programme and the reliability of its
launchers. The book concludes with an examination
of China's plans to put its first cosmonauts into space
and publishes photographs of the two trainee cosmonauts,
taking during their training in Moscow last year.
[March 22, 1998] Seven Launches This Year China plans to launch seven satellites in 1998,
including three Iridium satellites for U.S. electronics
giant Motorola Co, a Chinasat-8 satellite, an
European-made Sinosat-1 and a Chinese-made satellite, the
Guangming Daily said on Saturday. China completed all of
its launches last year, including successfully putting
into orbit two communications satellites for Motorola in
December.
[March 21, 1998] China to Launch Lunar and Mars
Probe China said the second time this week that it was
studying the possibility of sending probes to the moon
and Mars. "China will actively participate in deep
space exploration during the 21st century," said Mr
Yuan Jiajun, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of
Space Technology. China also plans to launch two
astrophysical satellites into low earth orbit, one in
equatorial orbit and another in polar orbit, Xinhua News
Agency reported.
[March 20, 1998] US Considering More Commercial
Launches on Long March The United States is pondering offering China
more launches of US commercial satellites in exchange for
its halting missile technology sales to Iran, The New
York Times said Thursday. The deal is similar to one
offered last week to Russia. "The emphasis is on
peaceful space cooperation", said the
senior official, adding that the deal contains no
help for the Chinese military. He also said US satellite
manufacturers were exerting "a lot of pressure
to find new opportunities for launch services. They are
in favor of ways to take advantage of foreign launch
services". The Washington Times also
reported one day earlier the Clinton administration has
decided to offer China access to missile technology now
barred to it if Beijing agrees to end exports of missiles
to Iran, Pakistan and other developing nations, The
proposed deal will presented in China next week by senior
State Department officials.
[March 19, 1998] China Announces Manned Flight in
Near Future China plans to launch a manned spacecraft and a
lunar explorer in the near future, a leading Chinese
space scientist said in Beijing Wednesday, AFP reported.
Ma Xingrui, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of
Space Technology (CAST) told an international meeting of
space scientists that the country's new space program
included developing large-capacity communication
satellites to provide direct broadcasts, mobile
communications and multi-media communications, resource
satellite using new remote sensors and expanded remote
sensing spectrums based on the ZY-1 satellite, and new
spacecraft on the basis of recoverable satellite
technology. There are also plans to develop small and
low-cost satellites to meet the requirements of space
exploration and international cooperation, he said.
[March 17, 1998] Great Wall / Loral Launch
Agreement China's Great Wall Industry Corp and U.S.-based
Loral Space & Communications Ltd on Monday signed a
satellite services launch agreement. The agreement calls
for Great Wall to carry out five launches for Loral using
a Chinese-made Long March Three rocket between March 1998
and March 2002, Xinhua reported, citing a Great Wall
official.
[March 16, 1998] New Weather Satellite to be
Launched in Octorber China plans to launch its 4th weather satellite
in October and provide free access to the satellite's
data to all countries and regions, says an official with
the National Meteorological Satellite Centre (NMSC),
Xinhua reported. The new satellite is to replace two FY-1
satellites launched in 1988 and 1990 which all have
stopped working.
[March 13, 1998] Great Wall Joins Commercial
Launch Organization China Great Wall Industry Corp (CGWIC) and other
international launch providers have engaged preliminary
discussions on the possible formation "to promote
commercial launch services". This organization would
be inspired from the International Air Transport
Association which coordinates air transport fares between
member companies. Talks will focus on standardization and
regulations regarding launch services. Participators also
include Arianespace (France, Ariane), Boeing (US, Delta),
International Launch Services (US/Russia, Atlas and
Proton), Orbital Space (US, Peagasus and Taurus), Rocket
Systems (Japan, H-2); Sea Launch
(US/Ukraine/Russia/Norway, Zenit-2) and Starsem
(France/Russia, Soyuz). But Eurockot Launch Services
(Germany/Russian, Rokot) and Launching Services of Russia
(Russia, Start and Kosmos) are not participating to the
newly created working group.
[March 9, 1998] New Loans to Support Long March China's Import and Export Bank will provide
China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) further
loans to support commercial Long March launches. The Bank
has already provided CGWIC with $428 million in loans
since 1994 to finance eight commercial satellite
launches.
[March 8, 1998] Asiasat Choose Hughes and Proton
Again Asia Satellite Communications has ordered
Asiasat 3S from Hughes to replace the Asiasat 3 satellite
stranded in a useless orbit after a Proton failure on 25
December last year. Asiasat received the full $200
million insurance proceeds for the loss and will use the
funds for the 3S satellite which will be launched within
15 months - on a Proton, "subject to satisfactory
results from the failure investigation", the company
said.
[February 26, 1998] Long March 3B to Stand in
Zhuhai A Long March 3B rocket will be displayed at
Zhuhai Airshow '98. It is the most powerful space launch
vehicle in China. Its maiden flight failed early 1996 but
two launches last year are successful. A Long March 2E
once exhibited at Zhuhai Airshow '96. This time should
see two launchers both. Zhuhai has booked the rokect from
CASC. The rokect will be transported from Beijing to
Zhuhai by train.
[February 24, 1998] Singapore Airshow Opens in
the Shadow of Finacial Crisis Asia Aerospace '98 opened in Singapore. China
Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), China Aviation
and Zhuhai Airshow Ltd paticipated. Great Wall displayed
1:20 models of Long March launchers and the DFH-3 comsat,
the same things appeared in AA '96.
[February 22, 1998] China to Launch 10 Satellites China plans to launch 10 satellites by the end
of the century, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
These satellites will include the Sino-Brazilian earth
resources satellite, and a series of other satellites
designed for earth observations, navigation and global
positioning, and scientific experimentation. The earth
resources satellite, or ZY-1, and a smaller satellite
will be launched this year. In addition, an advanced
earth observation satellite and various smaller
satellites are scheduled for launching during 1999. Work
on the improved Dongfanghong-4 communications satellite
is nearing completion.
