On the shores of the South China Sea, the Long March 5 launch vehicle was unveiled again, three years after the last public meeting with it.
On the evening of December 15, the launch tower was slowly opened, and under the afterglow of the setting sun, the Chang-5 rocket stood straight on the launch tower, pointing straight to the sky. At 21:41, with a loud rumbling sound, golden flames lit up the entire sea level, and the Chang-5 rocket set off from China's Wenchang Space Launch Site and rushed into the sky.
A brand new appearance
I haven't seen it for three years, and the Chang-5 rocket has "grown taller" again.
Li Pingqi, chief designer of the Changzheng-5 carrier rocket of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, introduced that in this mission, the Changzheng-5 rocket used the newly developed diameter of 5 for the first time2 meters, 18 meters highThe 5-meter fairing, capable of accommodating a larger payload, further increases the rocket's mission adaptability.
The core stage with a thicker diameter and 4 boosters with a large enough diameter make the Chang-5 rocket look "honest". "After adopting this fairing, the height of the whole arrow of the Chang Wu rocket has increased, and the 'fat five' that everyone cares about looks more coordinated this time. Li Pingqi said with a smile. This also makes the Chang-5 rocket the highest launch vehicle in service in China.
It is not easy for a rocket to "grow" a few meters taller. In the three years that the Chang-5 rocket has not carried out its mission, the research and development team has continued to focus on the 18The development of the 5-meter fairing was carried out. According to Li Pingqi, for rockets, the change of aerodynamic shape will involve changes in the design from the overall to aerodynamics and ballistics, which is equivalent to carrying out comprehensive design and development work as a completely new configuration. Of course, during this period, the team also successfully completed three Chinese space station construction missions carried out by the Long March 5B carrier rocket, and successfully sent the Tianhe core module, Wentian experimental module and Mengtian experimental module into space.
In fact, the development of a larger-sized fairing to meet the launch and use needs of higher orbit and larger payloads has always been the direction of the Chang-5 rocket development team. Li Pingqi said: "After this improvement, the launch adaptability and adaptability of the Chang-5 rocket have been improved, and in the future, it will be able to send more large-mass loads into the predetermined orbit." ”
The test cycle has been further optimized
Looking back on 2020, when the mission was launched, it was a year full of highlight moments for the Chang-5 rocket.
On July 23, 2020, the Changwen-5 rocket successfully completed the launch of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe, and on November 24, it successfully completed the launch of the Chang'e-5 lunar probe, laying a solid foundation for the implementation of China's first Mars exploration, lunar sample return and other major national aerospace engineering tasks.
Combined with the accumulation of experience in the launch of the Long March 5 and Long March 5B carrier rockets in total, as well as the work carried out at the launch site of previous missions, the Long March 5 rocket test team further shortened the test and launch cycle on the premise of ensuring test coverage by optimizing the repetitive test items and optimizing the work arrangements after entering the launch site.
While compressing the test and launch cycle, the Chang-5 rocket test team has also continuously improved the reliability of the rocket by continuously improving the key single engine of the engine and control system.
Due to the many difficulties in innovation and the high degree of complexity, since its first flight in 2016, the Chang-5 rocket development team has encountered various unexpected problems. Through the running-in of several tasks and thousands of days and nights of teamwork, the coordination and cooperation between various systems are becoming smoother and smoother. "Changwu Rocket is a team that is not afraid of encountering problems, and we are constantly improving our technology and understanding in solving problems. Li Pingqi added: "Engaged in the development of the Chang-5 rocket, it seems that everyone has no shortage of training opportunities to solve problems. But in the end, you must be able to pass any level. ”
Fly farther into deep space
If you want to go farther into deep space, you have to use rockets that can fly farther.
The development of the Chang-5 rocket is not aimed at a single mission, but it has helped China establish a foundation for the development of a new generation of carrier rockets. Li Pingqi introduced, for example, the Chang-5 rocket first adopted the "new three vertical and one far" test launch mode has been applied to other models. The successful development and engineering application of the Chang-5 rocket has greatly improved the overall technical level of China's launch vehicles, and the comprehensive technical indicators have reached the advanced level of similar large launch vehicles in the world.
As the first model of China's new generation of carrier rockets, the Chang-5 rocket has shouldered an extraordinary mission since its birth. As the rocket with the largest carrying capacity in China and the main force of future space launch missions, the Chang-5 rocket will undertake a number of major aerospace engineering tasks such as the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project and the planetary exploration project.
It is understood that in the future large-load geosynchronous transfer orbit, medium and high orbit and other launch missions, the Chang-5 rocket will play a major role, which is of great significance for building China's future space transportation system and accelerating the upgrading of existing launch vehicles.
Text: Gu Hangyu.
Figure Shi Xiao. Edited by Li Shuhui and Gao Yiming.
Proofreading Ren Changsheng.
Executive Producer: Huang Xi.