China launches first reusable satellite, with payloads from Thailand and Pakistan

[Cesur]

China on Friday successfully launched its first reusable satellite in a mission that aims to make progress in seed science, microgravity research and international cooperation in space, according to state media.

The Shijian-19 was successfully delivered into orbit by a Long March 2D (CZ-2D) rocket from the northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, state broadcaster CCTV said.


The new satellite represents progress in improving efficiencies – including lower costs – as well as faster testing of new technologies and conversion of research results into practical applications, the report said.

The launch “achieved a number of technological breakthroughs in the areas of reusability, high microgravity protection, high load-bearing ratios and re-entry environmental test services,” it said.

Additionally, the Shijian-19 also carried payloads from five countries, including Thailand and Pakistan, as part of China’s efforts to promote international cooperation in space, it added.

 

[onlinpunit]

Reusable satellite. What does it mean ?

 

[Michael]

China on Friday successfully launched its first reusable satellite in a mission that aims to make progress in seed science, microgravity research and international cooperation in space, according to state media.

The Shijian-19 was successfully delivered into orbit by a Long March 2D (CZ-2D) rocket from the northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, state broadcaster CCTV said.


The new satellite represents progress in improving efficiencies – including lower costs – as well as faster testing of new technologies and conversion of research results into practical applications, the report said.

The launch “achieved a number of technological breakthroughs in the areas of reusability, high microgravity protection, high load-bearing ratios and re-entry environmental test services,” it said.

Additionally, the Shijian-19 also carried payloads from five countries, including Thailand and Pakistan, as part of China’s efforts to promote international cooperation in space, it added.

Among all Chinese satellites, the use of the prefix “实践Shijian” means that it is a scientific test satellite. All satellites using this prefix represent the verification of China's current state-of-the-art technology.
The “实践Shijian-19” is the first reusable return satellite. No official photos of the satellite have been released for the time being, but combining the previous generations of return satellites and some of the latest academic papers, we can surmise some information.
It is similar to a smaller version of the reusable Shenzhou spacecraft. Smaller in size, lower in cost and faster in response. It can allow some space science experiments that previously needed to be done on the Tiangong space station or Shenzhou spacecraft to be accomplished on it.

Chinese scientists sintered moon soil into bricks and sent them to the Tiangong space station for space exposure tests. When the exposure tests are over, the bricks will be returned to Earth laboratories for scientists to study. In the future, China will use these moon soil sintered bricks technology to build a lunar base.

 

[JsCh]

Reusable satellite. What does it mean ?

It means the satellite will come back to/reenter earth, and the payload module is recoverable and will be able to be reused with new payload inside to be launch again into space in future orbital mission.