17 - Space-Library

headquarters for next year’s launch of the first Tiangong orbital
laboratory. The rocket had been modified structurally to carry
Tiangong 1, which, at about 10 tons, is 1 ton heavier than the
Shenzhou manned spacecraft. SAST builds the Long March 4 in
two versions, both with three stages and no boosters, and the
Long March 2D, a two-stage derivative. Long March 3
manufacturing is now mainly a CALT activity, SAST says, but the
Shanghai company builds some components for that launcher,
which, with three stages and boosters, is China’s heaviest. In
addressing the U.S. delegation, organized by the American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Chinese
Society of Astronautics, Meng promoted the idea of China
building rocket structures for U.S. companies. “The body is not
such high technology,” he says, suggesting that such joint
activity should not be so sensitive. There is, however, little sign
that the U.S. government will ease its ban on technical
cooperation with the Chinese space industry — certainly not as
launchers. SAST says it has 19,200 staff, including 8,700
engineers. Its assets are valued at 21 billion yuan ($3.2 billion)
and its revenue last year was 14 billion yuan. Meng expects that
to grow to 17-18 billion yuan this year, partly because of the
company’s expansion into solar power for applications on the
ground. Like other parts of the Chinese space industry, SAST is
under pressure from the central government to find ways of
applying its technology to promote the civil economy. In China’s
manned space program, centered on Shenzhou and Tiangong,
SAST says it builds the docking mechanisms, some structure,
the telemetry, tracing and command system, and important parts
of the electrical system. The company is particularly proud of its
docking mechanism, citing the opinion of an unnamed Russian
engineer who reckoned it was better than the Russian one. Meng
repeated China’s expression of willingness to work with the U.S.
to ensure compatibility. Long March 3A photo: Xinhau from
AWST
far as allowing Beijing’s state enterprises to build parts of U.S.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2010/11/08/03.xml&headline=Current%20Long%20March%20Rockets%20To%20Keep%20Flying
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