By 
November 11th, 2024
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China is outing details regarding a reusable space cargo shuttle, showcasing the space plane at the Zhuhai airshow.
The airshow is being held November 12 to 17 with a scaled model of the Haolong craft on display.
“The Haolong space cargo shuttle is a winged aircraft with an aerodynamic design featuring a large wingspan and a high lift-to-drag ratio, said Fang Yuanpeng, chief designer of Haolong space cargo shuttle in a China Central Television (CCTV) interview.
“With blunt-nosed fuselage and large, swept-back delta wings, it combines the characteristics of both spacecraft and aircraft, allowing it to be launched into orbit by a carrier rocket and land on airport runway like a plane,” Fang added.
Reportedly, the space plane will have a 1.8 ton capacity and comes replete with folding wings.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Low-cost, reusable
Haolong is being developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), and is designed as a low-cost, reusable spacecraft for transporting cargo to China’s space station.
“After completing the cargo transport mission, it can perform a horizontal landing on airport runways,” Fang said, “enabling it to meet cargo transport needs both to and from the space station. Furthermore, its reusability helps reduce costs in spacecraft development and cargo transportation.”
According to CCTV, the cargo space shuttle is 33 feet (10 meters) long and 26 feet (8 meters) wide, weighing less than half of China’s now in use Tianzhou supply ships.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Auto-pilot
“During the docking period,” Fang said, “the cargo hold of Haolong will be opened and connected to the space station cabin, and astronauts can enter and exit the cargo hold freely to fetch the cargo brought to the space station or place the materials to be sent to Earth according to their needs.”
After completing a cargo transport mission, Haolong will separate from the space station, autonomously deorbit and brake, re-enter the atmosphere, and land horizontally on a designated airport runway without power on auto-pilot mode, added Fang. After inspection, maintenance and repair, the craft would be ready for a repeat performance, he said.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Flight verification
As stated by CCTV, Haolong has recently been selected as one of the winners of a China Manned Space Agency’s solicitation for a low-cost cargo transportation system and has secured a contract for the flight verification phase.
At present, explains CCTV, the design scheme of the space shuttle has been completed, and the project has entered the stage of full-scale engineering research and development.
In viewing the newly issued animations, Haolong appears to be a double-take on the Sierra Space Dream Chaser, now being readied for its maiden flight next year from Florida.
Go to this informative video at:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1TaKEfmKRV/
Also an AVIC promotion film as posted by the
China ‘N Asia Spaceflight website at:
https://x.com/i/status/1855875068913734045
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Posted in Space News
