Chang Zheng 2 Spaceplane Launcher
Launch vehicle · China
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Chinese Launch Vehicles for Manned Projects. From left: Tsien Spaceplane Launcher, 1978; Project 921 Launch Vehicle, 1992; CZ-2F, 1999; CZ-2E(A), 2000. Only the last two were put into full scale development.
Credit: © Mark Wade
Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Tsien's manned spacecraft design proposed in the late 1970's was a winged spaceplane, launched by a CZ-2 core booster with two large strap-on boosters. It so strongly resembled the cancelled US Dynasoar of 15 years earlier that US intelligence analysts wondered if it wasn't based on declassified Dynasoar technical information.
First public announcement of the manned program came in February, 1978. In January, 1980 the Chinese press reported a visit with the Chinese astronaut trainees at the Chinese manned spaceflight training center. Photographs appeared of the astronauts at the controls of a space shuttle-like spaceplane cockpit. But then, suddenly, in December, 1980, Wang Zhuanshan, the Secretary General of the New China Space Research Society and Chief Engineer of the Space Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, announced that Chinese manned flight was being postponed because of its cost. Fundamental economic development was given priority.
Masses, performance estimated based on two strap-on boosters identical to CZ-2 first stage on a CZ-2 core.
LEO Payload: 7,800 kg (17,100 lb) to a 185 km orbit at 28.00 degrees.
Related
- Family
- orbital launch vehicle
- Country
- China
- Spacecraft
- Chinese Manned Capsule 1978
- Agency
- CALT
Chronology
2 events
1978 February
LV Family: CZ. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 2 Spaceplane Launcher.- First public announcement of a Chinese manned program - . Nation: China. Spacecraft Bus: FSW. Spacecraft: Chinese Manned Capsule 1978. First public announcement of a Chinese manned program came in February, 1978. By November the head of the Chinese Space Agency, Jen Hsin-Min, confirmed that China was working on a manned space capsule and a 'Skylab' space station..
1980 January
LV Family: CZ. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 2 Spaceplane Launcher.- Chinese astronauts in training - .
Nation: China.
Spacecraft Bus: FSW.
Spacecraft: Chinese Manned Capsule 1978.
The Chinese press reported a visit with the Chinese astronaut trainees at the Chinese manned spaceflight training centre. Photographs appeared of the astronauts in training. Pressure suited astronauts were shown in pressure chamber tests. Other trainees were shown at the controls of a space shuttle-like spaceplane cockpit.