China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China’s main aerospace contractor responsible for Chinese rockets Long march series, plans to carry out more than 50 launches this year – among them Shenzhou missions, transporting crew members to Tiangong Station, and various scientific, civil and military missions. If all goes well, China could carry out more than 70 space launches in total in 2023.
Last year, China reached the milestone of 64 launches. Now, factoring in CASC plans added to the launches that must be carried out by commercial companies, the country could exceed last year’s total, launching missions from spaceports in various locations.
This year, it is possible to expect a different launch Long march missiles. The Long March 6C will be able to make its maiden flight, and the famous Long March 5 and 5B should also be launched on missions throughout 2023 – this flight could be used, for example, to carry the Xuntian Space Telescope into space, or even test launches of several satellites in Low Earth orbit.
China is also expected to expand its Earth observation and reconnaissance capabilities this year. Thus, the country must continue to take off Satellites From the Yaogan and Gaofen series, with meteorological, communications and ocean observation satellites being carried into space.
Commercial launches and those from state-owned companies will be quite diverse. CAS Space, an “arm” of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is expected to build on the first success of its Lijian-1 solid rocket with more launches this year, the first of which is scheduled for May.
In parallel, Space Pioneer, the Chinese commercial company, may make its first launch attempt this year with a Tianlong-2 rocket, following the trend of commercial liquid launch vehicles destined for flight tests.
Source: via: Space news
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