[May 29, 2000] China and Russia Continue Space Cooperation China and Russia ended their two-day discussion in Beijing on bilateral space and
aviation cooperation in a sub-committee under the committee for the regular meeting
between prime ministers of China and Russia. This is the first meeting the sub-committee
held since it was set up in accordance with the principle of an agreement the two
countries signed in 1997 to hold regular meetings between the Chinese and Russian prime
ministers. It was learned that some cooperation projects were discussed during the
meeting. The two sides agreed that the bilateral space cooperation is not only in the
interests of the peoples of the two countries, but also conducive to world peace and
development. (China Daily)
[May 28, 2000] China to Develop Solid Fuel Launch Vehicle China has established a new company specializing in the development of solid fuel
launch vehicle. The Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier Co., Ltd., whose major shareholder is
China Space Machinery and Electronics (Group) Company, intends to compete with a handful
of foreign companies. The new SLV-1 launch vehicle would be a mobile, partially reusable
small space launcher. It is expected to enter the international market in the near future.
(SpaceChina)
[May 18, 2000] CBERS-1 Seeks Market Share China and Brazil are planning to commercialize images taken by the Ziyuan-1
(CBERS-1) resource satellite on the international market. The pictures are already
available through the Internet web site www.dgi.inpe.br
with competitive prices varying from R$300 to 600 (Brazilian currency unit). Currently
picture receiving is being made through four ground stations: three in China (Beijing,
Naning and Urunqi) and one in Brazil (Cuiab). Agreement between China and Brazil also
allow building of more ground stations in other countries. Ziyuan-1 was launched by a
CZ-4B from China in last October. (INPE)
[May 12, 2000] FY-1C and DHF-3 (ChinaSat 6) Work Well FY-1C has spent a full year in space. It worked smoothly during the past year
without any problems, which makes it the longest life China made sun-synchronized weather
satellites. Meanwhile, the DFH-3 (ChinaSat-6) communication satellite spent its third
anniversary in orbit. Telemetric signals show that all its transponders and subsystems are
in good health. Its expectation life is 8 years. FY-1C and ChinaSat-6 were launched on May
10, 1999 and May 11, 1997. (China News Service)
[May 8, 2000] FY-2A Maneuvers FY-2A performed a station-keeping manoeuvre over 105 deg E during the period
March 2-3, 2000, at the same
time performing an orbital inclination manoeuvre. The satellite ceased operations over its
operational longitude on March 3 following a de-spinning. It was manoeuvred off-station
over 105 deg E approximately 2000 Apr 19 and was relocated to 86.5 deg E approximately Apr
24. It is unclear whether this manoeuvre is to leave the slot for a new satellite.
(Phillip S Clark)
[April 27, 2000] ChinaSat-22 Delivered for Use The communication satellite, "Zhongxing-22" (ChinaSat 22) launched on
January 26 from Xichang Satellite Launching Center, was formally delivered for use on
April 26. The satellite, a successor to the "DFH 3", is a synchronous
communications satellite. The satellite, which weighs 2.3 tons and has a service life of
eight years, was developed by China Academy of Space Technology and run by China
Telecommunications and Broadcasting Satellite Corporation. (People's Daily)
[April 24, 2000] China's First Satellite Still in Orbit Dongfanghong-1, China's first satellite which was launched into the orbit 30
years ago, continues to orbit the Earth, though its storage batteries have run out of
power, Beijing Youth Daily reported Monday in Beijing. On this day 30 years ago, the
rocket, now known as " Long March 1," stood on the launch-pad waiting for the
order for projection at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu
Province. The ignition took place at 21:35. "Upon seeing it ignite on cable TV in an
underground compound, I ran out and saw the beautiful rocket dashing into the sky
southeastward," recalled Shen Jianan, a rocket expert. The satellite, weighing 172
kg, had been broadcasting the melody of Dongfanghong (The East is Red), a chant for late
Chinese leader Mao Zedong, until its storage cells stopped working. (People's Daily)
[April 24, 2000] Beijing Rally Marks 30th Anniversary of Satellite Launch The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense held a
gathering on April 24 morning to celebrate the 30th anniversary of China's successful
maiden satellite launch. On April 24, 1970, China successfully put its
"Dongfanghong" satellite into orbit for the first time in the country's history.
The success made China the fifth country in the world, after the former Soviet Union, the
United States, France and Japan, to launch its own satellite into the space.
"The successful launch had greatly uplifted the country's status among its peers and
boosted the morale of the whole nation," said Liu Jibin, minister in charge of the
commission. Over the past three decades, China has succeeded in putting a total of 61
satellites into the space. (People's Daily)
[April 24, 2000] Italian Comsat Set for Launch May 2001 China will launch an Italy made communication satellite in May 2001. According to
the agreement signed by China Great Wall Industries and Alenia, the Atlantic Bird 1 (built
by Alenia for Eutelsat) comsat is to be put into space by a Long March 3A rocket from
Xichang Satellite Launch Center. This would be the first time for CZ-3A to launch a
commercial satellite. (China News Service)
[April 13, 2000] China Develops Its Own Solid Rocket Chinese Foreign Minister spokesman Sun Yuxi stated definitely April 11 that the
so-called China's acquisition of technological assistance from Lockheed Martin in the
country's research and development of EPKM is totally groundless. According to news
reports, the US State Department alleges that China had got technological help from
Lockheed Martin in developing its EPKM in 1994. The spokesman of China Great Wall
Industries flatly turned down the US State Department's groundless allegation on April 9.
Sun Yuxi made it clear that China has relied completely on its own to have developed its
EPKM in launching Asiasat-2 communication satellite. (People's Daily)
[April 6, 2000] U.S. Says Lockheed Aided China on Rocket Motor The State Department has charged Lockheed Martin Corp. with violating the Arms
Export Control Act by providing a scientific assessment of a Chinese-made satellite motor
to a state-owned Chinese conglomerate. A spokesman for Lockheed Martin, James L. Fetig,
denied that the company had violated export laws. According to Lockheed, the company sent
a team of scientists to China in 1994 at the request of a Hong Kong-based client, Asia
Satellite Telecommunications Co., to assess the "kick motor"(EPKM) that Asiasat
planned to use in launching its Asiasat-2 communications satellite. After Lockheed
completed its study, the company forwarded 10 copies of the 50-page document to Asiasat.
Lockheed officials said that the company performed the technical assessment under a strict
confidentiality agreement with Asiasat that prohibited dissemination to firms or
government entities in China. (Washington Post)
[April 4, 2000] ChinaSat 8 Never be a Discussion Issue The U.S. ambassador in Beijing recently hosted a meeting of Chinese and U.S.
satellite companies, including two firms now under federal investigation on charges of
illegally sharing missile data with China, and the Chinese government minister in charge
of the China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp. (CASC). "We asked the
ambassador to have a meeting to explain the status of ChinaSat 8, and the ambassador set
up a meeting," said Loral spokesman Tom Ross. However, Embassy spokesman Bill Palmer
said there was no discussion at the dinner of ChinaSat 8. Helen Sanders, a spokeswoman for
Hughes, had no immediate comment. A Lockheed Martin spokesman also had no comment. Sen.
Robert C. Smith said the satellite meeting is "very disturbing." (The Washington
Times)
[March 21, 2000] Iridium Bankrupt Costs China a Lot Iridium was once a miracle but now a totally failure. As a major shareholder,
former China Aerospace Corporation (CASC), now China Space Science and Technology
Corporation and China Space Machinery and Electric Corporation, got no return from their
many million dollars of investment on ground stations and gateways, as well as user
terminals. Iridium has 909 users in China, all of them were transferred to GlobalStar
after Iridium ceases operation. China also lost remaining 5 Iridium launches by its
Long March 2C/SD rocket. (COSTIND)
[March 18, 2000] China Faces Serious Brain Drain Of Space Specialists The Chinese national space program is suffering loss of skilled space
specialists, China News Service reported last week after Li Jianzhong, head of the Chinese
Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) discussed the problem with Premier Zhu Rongji
earlier in the week. Li said that research environment at CALT had always been well
suited to foster young technicians in developing their skills. But some of the young
technicians were attracted to the higher paying jobs many foreign companies offer. In one
of the research institutions in the Academy, Li said that the loss of skilled workers
reached an alarming 40 percent a year. This has posed agonizing problems for the Academy.
He urged relevant government departments to address the "braindrain" problem, to
enact a special policy to retain talented workers. (Space Daily)
[March 3, 2000] ZY-1 Delivered for Use The Sino-Brazilan earth resource satellite, Ziyuan-1 (CBERS-1), launched on
October 14 last year, was formally delivered for use on March 2. The satellite has worked
normally for 140 days, orbited the earth for more than 2000 circles. Zhu Lilan, Minister
of Science and Technology, Liu Jibin, director of The Commission of Science, Technology
and Industry for National Defense, and Brazilian ambassador attended the ceremony. (CAST)
