Sci-Tech

Analysis of the highlights of the Long March 6C carrier rocket: autonomous driving, standard and optional configuration

2024-05-08   

On May 7th, China successfully launched the Long March 6C carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The launched Neptune 01, Zhixing 1C, wide optical satellite, and high-resolution video satellite entered the designated orbit, and the flight test mission was a complete success. This mission marks the first flight of the Long March 6C carrier rocket, marking the addition of new members to the Long March rocket family and further improving the lineup of China's new generation Long March series carrier rockets. The Long March 6C carrier rocket launched this time was developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and is a new generation liquid carrier rocket aimed at the future commercial launch market. The rocket adopts a single core two-stage configuration, with a first stage diameter of 3.35 meters and two 120 ton thrust liquid oxygen kerosene engines. The second stage has a diameter of 2.9 meters and uses one 18 ton thrust liquid oxygen kerosene engine. The total length of the entire rocket is about 43 meters, with a takeoff weight of about 215 tons and a carrying capacity of about 2.4 tons in a 500 kilometer sun synchronous orbit. It can be adapted to various specifications of satellite fairings according to different missions. Faced with the increasingly strong demand for satellite launch, choosing a carrier rocket that is highly reliable, cost-effective, adaptable, and responsive is a common requirement for commercial launch services among users. The Long March 6C carrier rocket is the first innovative application of AAC (Adaptive Augmented Control) technology in China's carrier rocket field, achieving precise control of the rocket's attitude and promoting the rocket control system to continuously move towards autonomy and intelligence. "The adaptive augmented control technology of rockets can be simply understood as intelligent driving, which automatically adjusts the steering wheel and throttle by judging road conditions, passenger comfort, and other factors, achieving automatic control of speed and direction, ensuring safe and stable driving, while also taking into account passenger riding experience." said Hu Cunming, a rocket expert at the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group. In addition, the development team has also developed a lightweight storage tank to slim down rockets. The Long March 6C carrier rocket first used a 2.9-meter foam sandwich bottomed tank with a large temperature difference. By reducing the excess space between the two tanks and carrying as much fuel as possible, it can reduce the "dead weight" of the rocket, further improve the structural efficiency of the rocket and enhance the rocket carrying capacity. Unlike previous national launch missions, the diverse launch demands in the commercial market often bring more variables. How to adapt to changes without changing, and achieve rapid compliance while maximizing user satisfaction? "Detaskization" is the answer given by the development team of the Long March 6C carrier rocket. The so-called "de tasking" refers to maximizing the state of unified products, first creating a "standard rocket" that can adapt to multi task requirements and can be rolled into batch production. After the launch mission is clarified in the later stage, adaptive "installation and improvement" can be carried out on the "standard rocket" according to satellite matching requirements. "Just like the standard and optional components when we purchase electronic products," said Yu Yansheng, a rocket expert at the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Through the "de mission" model, the adaptability and flexibility of the Long March 6C carrier rocket can be effectively improved, meeting the needs of high-frequency and high-density launches in the commercial aerospace market. The four satellites launched in this mission are Long March 6

Edit: Responsible editor:

Source:

Special statement: if the pictures and texts reproduced or quoted on this site infringe your legitimate rights and interests, please contact this site, and this site will correct and delete them in time. For copyright issues and website cooperation, please contact through outlook new era email:lwxsd@liaowanghn.com

Recommended Reading Change it

Links