CMSA Awards Commercial Cargo Contracts, and Gives Moon Mission Updates

During and coinciding with Shenzhou-19's press conference the China Manned Space Agency and other agencies released many new updates on the trajectory for China's space programme. This includes new cargo spacecraft in development, lunar contract development, and further pushing for the development of crewed spacecraft by the nonpublic aerospace sphere along with updates in regards to China's manned lunar program.

Cargo Spacecraft Development

In order to increase the capacity of the Tiangong space station last year in 2023 the CMSA asked for cargo spacecraft proposals. This program shares a lot of similarities with the US' very successful Commercial Cargo and Crew programs. While China's state-owned companies and agencies are not at all ending their capability to deliver crew and cargo to their space station there has been a push in all spheres to encourage development throughout all parts of the aerospace industry,

On October 28th China released a long-awaited update on the progress of this proposal request. Detailed design phase has reportedly begun after the second round of selection. Chengdu Aerospace Corporation and IAMCAS both won this final phase of contracts to develop two separate cargo vehicles

Hao Long-1 (昊龙-1)

The Chengdu aerospace corporation has developed many vehicles used by the PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) and is no stranger to aerospace, with a large wealth of capital and decades of design experience they proposed a spaceplane proposal called Hao Long-1 cargo shuttle. It plans on being a reusable commercial spacecraft designed to carry out low-cost space station cargo transportation missions. Little is known about the specific design and architecture or when it will launch.

Chengdu Aerospace Corporation has said the upcoming Zhuhai Airshow in mid-November will feature Halong's model and more details on display.

Qing Zhou (轻舟)

Qing Zhou meaning light vessel is a cargo spacecraft being developed by a subsidiary of CAS. is an IAMCAS (Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences) proposal. IAMCAS has experience in satellite construction, building several science satellites for the Chinese space program. IAMCAS is specialized in satellite engineering, remote sensing, microsatellites, and scientific research. They are more akin to a research institute then any kind of company.

The Qing Zhou will be the first payload to launch on Kinetica-2, CAS-Space's latest cargo spacecraft, is set to launch next September, offering an impressive 2.75-ton payload capacity and 2.9-ton trash disposal capability. With a cost of ¥100 million per ton, this spacecraft introduces a more affordable solution for space cargo missions, promising to enhance access to orbital logistics. Leveraging a function chain design, the Qing Zhou integrates a high-performance yet low-cost electronic system, setting a new standard for efficiency in space tech.

The Qing Zhou js advanced logistics networking, fully digital design, with capability for autonomous operations. Its space-to-Earth logistics streamline cargo movement, while advanced manufacturing reduces production time and costs. With high autonomy, it is said to complete complex tasks reliably.

The Chinese Manned Space Agency also urged the commercial sphere to develop human-rated launch vehicles and spacecraft. Possibly hinting at commercial participation in delivering crew to Tiangong, similar to commercial crew evolving from the commercial cargo program in the United States.

Lunar Rover Contract

CMSA has reviewed many proposals and narrowed their choices down to two Lunar Rover proposals for China's first phase of crewed lunar landings. The two proposals come from SAST (Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight) and CAST (China Academy of Space Technology). Along with this they announced a naming contest for the lunar rover that ends November 30th 2024.

The lunar rover development team for China's first manned lunar mission will eventually be selected from these two, based on a comparison of the results achieved by their respective prototypes,

SAST

Founded in 1961 and headquartered in Shanghai, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) is a key member of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). As one of China's largest suppliers of aerospace technology, SAST plays a crucial role in the R&D of launch vehicles, satellites, and spacecraft. Its advanced technologies also support civil applications, leading to the development of industries in areas like photovoltaic systems and lithium batteries.

CAST

Founded in 1968, the China Association for Science and Technology has evolved into a leading spacecraft designer and manufacturer, employing over 22,000 individuals by 2023. The company specializes in delivering comprehensive space-ground system solutions to clients worldwide.

CAST’s expertise encompasses the entire spectrum of spacecraft development, from system-level design to equipment and components. They serve diverse sectors, including telecommunications, remote sensing, navigation, human spaceflight, and space science exploration. In addition to spacecraft delivery, CAST offers dedicated services such as design and integration testing, satellite ground applications, and tailored customer support, including training and consulting on orbital and frequency management.

Taikonaut training

A group of ten Taikonauts chosen back in August will participate in a training program focused on preparing for manned lunar landing missions.

These taikonauts will learn to maneuver spacecraft and operate lunar rovers, as well as master techniques for conducting geological surveys. Their training will also involve more traditional experiences that China is more familiar with such as weightlessness in orbit. They will also train for new challenges such as that of moving under lunar gravity on the moon's surface.

Last month, the CMSA revealed the exterior design of a moon-landing spacesuit for the first time. This suit is constructed from protective materials designed to effectively shield China's taikonauts from the moon's thermal environment and dust. This is the first batch of taikonauts to have training heavily focused and specific to the manned lunar program.

Astronaut Liu Yang has also stated that China is targeting their circumlunar mission by 2028 and a lunar landing by 2030

At the press conference, the spokesperson announced that China is in talks to select and train astronauts from partner countries to take part in its space station missions. The CMSA is open to welcoming international counterparts to join the flight missions of the country's space station.

"Regardless of which nation takes part, this is a shared human effort to explore the mysteries of the cosmos," Lin remarked, emphasizing that manned space missions represent "the most immediate human endeavor in utilizing space resources."

The Shenzhou-19 press conference ended by reaffirming the potential for international collaboration onboard Tiangong. Earlier this month, the CMSA also showed plans for expansion of Tiangong's crew capacity and livable space further supporting China's aspirations to be a world leader in space.