Jin Yishan
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
Since 1978, CALT has made great space successfully, showing China OVERVIEW
contributions to China’s space industry had begun to utilize larger diameter
and obtained 3487 awards for scientific rockets. China Academy of Launch Vehicle
Technology (CALT) was founded on No- research including 5 Top-grade National 3. On April 8, 1984, a LM-3 launch vember 16, 1957. It was the first research Science and Technology Awards. vehicle successfully sent China’s unit devoted to the development of launch first geosynchronous communica- vehicles in China with China’s well- tions satellite DFH-2 into its preset KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
known scientist Prof. Qian Xuesen as its orbit. The hydrogen-oxygen engine first President. With more than 50 years and the second engine start tech- CALT has had remarkable achieve-
of effort CALT has developed steadily, nology marked China’s launch ve- ments since its foundation, and made
and plays an indispensable role in China’s hicle technology had reached world outstanding contributions to the compre-
space industry. advanced level. hensive national strength, promotion of
CALT has become a comprehensive international status and modern national 4. O n A u g u s t 5 , 1 9 8 7 , a L M - 2 C entity for research, design and manufac- defence construction. launch vehicle piggybacked for the
ture with its launch vehicles reaching first time a micro-gravity unit for CALT has created many firsts in the
first-class level in the world. CALT com- course of launch vehicle development: a French company, symbolizing prises several subsidiaries including 11 China’s space industry had begun 1. On April 24, 1970, a LM-1 Launch institutes, 2 entities with 1 responsible for to cooperate with international vehicle sent China’s first man-
the integration of development and pro- counterparts. made satellite DFH-1 into space,
duction, 2 manufacturing plants, 1 hospi- s y m b o l i z i n g C h i n a ’s a b i l i t y t o 5. On April 7, 1990, a LM-3 launch
tal, 2 full-funded companies, 1 listed com- explore space and pany in Hong Kong and several holding had entered into the and sharing companies. There are about space era. 26,000 employees in CALT, of which ap- 2. O n N o v e m b e r
proximately 10,000 are senior technical 26, 1975, a LM-2 professionals including 24 academicians launch vehicle sent Summer from the Chinese Academy of Sciences China’s first recov-
and Chinese Academy of Engineering. erable satellite into
Bird’s eye view of CALT
vehicle made the first commercial launch for the APT Satellite Com-
pany, marking China had begun to
enter into the international com-
mercial satellite launch market.
6. On July 16, 1990, a LM-2E strap-
on launch vehicle made its maiden
flight successfully, which improved
the LEO launch capacity to 9200kg
by adopting a rocket configuration
modified from the tandem structure
to tandem plus strap-on structure
thus meeting the requirements for
the satellite launch market.
7. On August 20, 1997, a LM-3B made
a successful flight for the first time.
With the maximum GTO payload Space technology applied in wind power capacity of over 5000kg, LM-3B
r a n k e d s e c o n d i n G TO l a u n c h people’s long dream of flying to north pole to the south pole) and the capality in the world commercial space, and China became the third LTO of 36000km (e.g. lunar explora- launch market and third in payload country capable of sending its as- tion satellites), and manned spaceships. factor in the world. tronaut to space in the world.
8. On November 20, 1999, a LM-2F Of the 12 versions of the LM launch FUTURE DEVELOPING TREND launch vehicle sent the first un- vehicle, CALT accounts for 10 of them,
manned experimental spaceship including LM-1 (launched the DFH-1 Key Areas of Development for Space successfully into space, showing satellite successfully), LM-2, LM-2C se- Launch Vehicle Systems that China has obtained advanced ries (honored as Golden Rocket), LM-2E
launch vehicle technology, cre- (implemented China’s first international ? LM-3A series launch vehicles: to ating a solid foundation for the c o m m e r c i a l l a u n c h m i s s i o n ) , L M - 2 F carry out missions represented by follow-on manned spaceship flight (launched China’s first manned space- C h a n g ’ e P r o g r a m , a n d s e c o n d - missions. ship), LM-3, LM-3A, and LM-3B. The generation navigation satellites;
9. On October 15, 2003, a LM-2F launch capacity ranges from LEO of improve the reliability of the third- launch vehicle sent China’s first about 200km (low Earth orbit remote stage cryogenic engine and com- manned spaceship into space suc- sensing satellites), the SSO (e.g. re - plete the application study and cessfully, realizing the Chinese sources satellites flying over from the architecture integration of space- Summer based TT&C.
LM-2C launch vehicle: to carry out ?
the redundancy improvement of the
control system and the replacement
of the ground test-control equip-
ment.
LM-2F launch vehicle: to carry out ?
Shenzhou 8 spaceship and Tian-
gong 1 missions.
LM-7 launch vehicle and its deriva- ?
tive model: to complete the maiden
flight of LM-7 launcher, carry out
preliminary research and program
demonstration for solid booster
configuration, and formalize it.
Solid launch vehicle: to raise the ?
adaptability to meet the needs of a Space technology applied in wind power
of electric cars, vehicle integration,
servo motor controller as well as component product development for high value-added special ve- hicles, such as van modified cars, aerial working vehicles, and coal mine flameproof vehicles etc., real- izing the industrialization of civil- purpose vehicles and becoming a first-class supplier of special ve- hicles and new energy vehicles in China.
Wind Power: to make key techno- ?
logical breakthroughs in high-pow-
er direct-drive fan, develop world advanced fans with independent intellectual property, and set up a sound research, development and manufacture system for fan equip- ment and key components.
New material and applications: to ?
actively develop civil applications based on the advantages of core technologies and expertise, try to form large projects in the new ma- terial field.
Space special technology applica- ?
tions: taking the advantage of the space technology, attach impor- tance to the development of vibra- tion test equipment and artificial heart project so as to become an advanced vibration test equipment supplier in China, and realize mass production and industrialization
A LM-3A is roaring to space with Chang’e-l development of the third-genera- Summer tion blood pump for the artificial heart project. rapid mobile launch for small satel- coal processing up to 700t per day,
Modern service business: to es- ? lites and emergency launch in war- tackle key technical problems for
tablish a modern service business time and for disaster relief etc.. larger 1500-2000t daily capacity
cluster for building and property ? Small/large upper stage project: to and product manufacture, and es-
management, cultural creation, implement the research on small/ tablish its market position.
modern logistics and trade, scien- large upper stage. Special vehicles and new energy ?
tific research security, and medical vehicles: to focus on developing ? Advanced upper stage: to carry out
service etc., continuously promote leading products such as dump the flight demonstration atop the
the transformation and upgrading truck chassis and dump trucks to LM-5 launch vehicle.
by means of advanced concepts m a i n t a i n t h e a d v a n c e d t e c h n o -
and technology, steadily improve logical position in domestic special Key Development Projects of Space Tech- the research capability and market vehicle market; to develop new nology Applications and Modern Services level, and build up an appropri- energy vehicles and ancillary prod-
ate business model suitable for ucts so as to promote the industrial ? Coal chemical industry: to promote CALT. development of the power system coal gasification technology for