Smart Dragon to Orbit
By Bill D’Zio
August 17, 2019
The JieLong “Smart” Dragon SD-1 launching from China August 17th, 2019 [Image Credits: CASC]
Just after noon Beijing time, August 17, the JieLong-1 (Smart dragon) rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. According to news reports, the launch was a complete success. JieLong-1 successfully sent three satellites into the orbit. This is the first commercial launch of the Dragon series of launch vehicle being developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (中国航天科技技术有限公司) or otherwise known as “CASC” (航天科技). Tang Yagang, the company’s president, said in 2018 that the small-sat-solid rocket was named “JieLong” to describe its speed, mobility, agility and flexibility. It is also the first “pure commercial” launch vehicle series, which was developed by CASC with the intention of capturing commercial launch market.
CASC on the move
CASC is a major player in the Chinese space launch market and highly capable. CASC, since being established in 1956, has a long history of rocket development and has supported the needs of the Chinese space program. Also, CASC is ranked #323 on the 2019 Fortune Global 500. According to the Global 500 list, CASC has roughly $37.7 billion in revenues and profits of $2.46 billion. The CASC website disclosed having 8 R&D/production complexes, 11 specialized companies, 13 listed companies. These assets resulting in a rough valuation of $63.5 billon according to Fortune. CASC employees over 170,000 employees and is engaged in the research, design, manufacture, test and launch of space products such as launch vehicle, satellite, manned spaceship, cargo spaceship, deep space explorer and space station as well as strategic and tactical missile systems.
The recent JieLong launch is a continuation of a long history of successful rocket development but also a departure. According to CASC, the CASC developed Long March (LM) launch vehicles have made over 290 flight. The Long March family of rockets have a wide variety of capabilities. Depending on the need, CASC can launch spacecraft and satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO), Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and even send craft on a transfer orbit to the Earth’s Moon. The Long March rockets have demonstrated an increasing level of sophistication since their original introduction. CASC is refining launch capabilities and has been working on updated rockets since the renewed interest in Space by China. The next generation launch vehicles include the LM-5, LM-6, LM-7 and LM-11. For example, the LM-5 can reportedly send 25,000 kg to LEO and 14,000 kg to GTO.
The Small JieLong “Smart” Dragon is fast and maneuverable rocket that is a departure from the typical larger liquid fueled rocket CASC utilizes. [Image Credits: CASC]
Some details on the “Smart” Dragon
[Orbit comparisons]
LEO – Low Earth orbit (LEO): orbits with altitudes below 2,000 km (100–1,240 miles).
MEO – Medium Earth orbit (MEO): orbits ranging in altitude from 2,000 km (1,240 miles) to just below geosynchronous orbit at 35,786 kilometers (22,236 mi).
GTO – A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is an elliptical orbit used to transfer between two circular orbits of different radii(altitude above Earth) in the same plane. High thrust engines are employed when entering a geosynchronous or geostationary orbit. Typically, the rocket delivers the Satellite into GTO, but the Satellite then changes from GTO to GSO. (also see Hohmann transfer orbit)
GSO – A geosynchronous orbit (GSO) is an orbit around a planet with a satellite with an orbital period that allows the object in GSO to remain above a fixed point on the planet. For Earth, the orbital period of a satellite in GSO is 23hours, 56 min and 4 sec and an altitude of 35,786 kilometers (22,236 mi). (This Orbital period matches the Earth’s rotation). GSO are useful for various purposes but require a comparatively large delta-v to enter as compared to a LEO.
SSO – A Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) or heliosynchronous orbit allows a satellite passes over any given point of the planet’s surface at the same local mean solar time. In a polar orbit around a planet, the satellite always maintains the same relationship with the Sun.
HEO – High Earth orbit: orbits above the altitude of geosynchronous orbit 35,786 km (22,240 miles).
In contrast to the LM-5, the new four stage solid fueled Dragon rocket is focused on the growing small sat market. CASC shared that it was designed with the concept of being small, fast, and inexpensive. The rocket is roughly 19.5 meters tall and diameter of 1.2 meters. The gross take-off weight of about 23.1 tons allows delivery of a 200 kg payload to a 500 kilometers sun synchronous orbit. In the new Dragon Series, CASC has suggested two types of rockets. The first is the one JieLong or “Smart” Dragon. Since the JieLong is based on solid fuel, it has less dependence on launch facilities and can be more flexible with launch sites. Launch site flexibility is a selling point for the JieLong rocket. A second selling point is the reduced time it takes to launch. CASC also has plans for liquid fueled dragon rockets, the Tenglong series. Adding the Tenglong liquid commercial launch vehicles, CASC is hoping to cover more market demand;
In addition to the new “Dragon” series of rockets, CASC is heavily involved in China programs such as Manned Spaceflight, Lunar Exploration, Beidou Navigation and High-Resolution Earth Observation System; CASC has goals to be involved in a variety of new programs and projects such as heavy launch vehicle, Mars exploration, asteroid exploration, space vehicle in-orbit service and maintenance, and space-ground integrated information network; and actively conducting international exchanges and cooperation, thus making new contributions to peaceful use of outer space and benefiting mankind as a whole.
About The Author
Bill D'Zio
Co-Founder at WestEastSpace.com
Bill founded WestEastSpace.com after returning to China in 2019 to be supportive of his wife's career. Moving to China meant leaving the US rocket/launch industry behind, as USA and China don't see eye to eye on cooperation in space. Bill has an engineering degree and is an experienced leader of international cross-functional teams with experience in evaluating, optimizing and awarding sub-contracts for complex systems. Bill has worked with ASME Components, Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) for use in launch vehicles, satellites, aerospace nuclear, and industrial applications.
Bill provides consulting services for engineering, supply chain, and project management.
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