The US isn’t the only country with aspirations of going to deep space. The United States remains the only country to send people beyond Low Earth Orbit. That may change very soon. China is about to test a new spacecraft intended to carry taikonauts to the moon and beyond.
Is it a space race if one side doesn’t say it is a race?
A race to the Moon played out in the 1960s. The race ended when Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon. The US started the race in second place, behind the USSR. The US overcame setbacks, but ultimately surpassed the USSR. The USSR failed to develop the super heavy-lift rocket needed to send people to the Moon.
Low earth orbit space stations replaced the race to the Moon, until recently. The USSR advanced more rapidly developing space stations in Low Earth Orbit. The US focused on a reusable space shuttle in hopes to lower cost to space. The rivalry came to an end with the agreement to build an International Space Station.
China enters the space race.
A new space race between the US and China grows more noticeable yearly. The USA started to work with China in the 1990s but did not last long. The US has increasingly restricted access to information and technology related to space. China, blocked by US export control laws, can not coöperate at the International Space Station. Severe penalties exist for violators of US export control laws. Even traveling with your work computer overseas to China without proper approvals can land you in jail.
Despite the restrictions in place by the United States, China made substantial progress in crewed spaceflight without the aid of the United States. China acquired technology from Russia to jumpstart its human spaceflight program. China developed the Soyuz derived Shenzhou spacecraft after several years. China since launched two space labs, each time growing in complexity and ability.
In 2003, China established itself as the third country to independently launch a human into space. The Shenzhou 5 carried taikonaut, Yang Liwei. China subsequently launched more manned missions and established one of the world’s most advanced space programs.
China developed a global navigation system with comparable capabilities to the US GPS network. China’s BaiDou network propelled it into a select few nations with global navigation capabilities. Only the United States and Russia previously had global coverage to offer both military and civilian global positioning.
New rockets raising China to new heights.
Heavy-lift rockets enable launching launch larger satellites, future space stations, and deep space exploration. China’s rocket capabilities now include the heavy-lift rocket comparable to the USA. The United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy capability measures at 28,370 kg to LEO. The Long March-5 offers China similar heavy-lift capabilities.
Chinese rocket technology grew from simple solid-fueled rockets to advanced cryogenic fuels. China also intends to develop reusable boosters, similar to SpaceX and Blue Origin.
In a recent flurry of activity, the new rocket planned rolled out to the launch pad. The rocket and new space capsule launch from Wenchang on the island of Hainan, the Hawaii of China.
Announced traffic restrictions enter into force in Wenchang on May 5 to ensure road traffic in Hainan Province remains safe, smooth, and orderly during the “Long March 5B Yaoyi Carrier Rocket” mission. The Provincial Public Security Department Traffic Police implemented precautions on roads around Wenchang Space Launch Base. Safe to say that the Long March 5B launch date now set for Tuesday, May 5.
China’s aspirations grow.
China’s new aspirations include a long-term presence in space. China’s new space station intends to offer similar capabilities to the ISS. The station, although smaller than International Space Station, provides a sustained long-term space presence. The space station will be built around 2022. With the future of the ISS coming to an end, China may have the only space station in low earth orbit.
China’s current space aspirations include sending people to the moon and beyond. Most details remain private. However, China started to develop and test a new spacecraft. The new spacecraft diverges from the Shenzhou design to the more typical blunted cone section. The new design first garnered some media attention during the initial spacecraft testing in 2013.
Since then, additional testing progressed including testing of the new landing method. Yet unnamed new spacecraft leverages parachutes and airbags for safe astronaut return. Actually, China’s name for its astronauts differs. China commonly calls its space travelers taikonauts. Tàikōng (太空) translates to ‘space’. The second have of the name comes from the Greek word ναύτης (naútēs, ‘sailor’); the term became more common in 2003 when China sent its first astronaut Yang Liwei into space aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft
In May 2020, spacecraft tests continue including an orbital flight aboard the upgraded launch vehicle. The tests progressively prove the relevant technology that the spacecraft needs for reuse. The partially reusable spacecraft includes similar 10 flight goals of the US equivalent.
Will American private companies Square off in Space with China?
State-owned companies largely produce and support the Chinese human spaceflight program. Although NASA plans to utilize the Orion spacecraft for deep space exploration, NASA leverages a number of non-government owned subcontractors. Currently, the USA spacecraft options number more than Chinas.
Private companies take a more pronounced role in the US space program. SpaceX developed and launched the Dragon cargo ship. NASA announced the May 2020 crewed Dragon debut launch. SpaceX also frequently shares progress on its Starship development. Boeing debuted its Starliner spacecraft in 2019. Sierra Nevada Corporation plans to launch the Dream Chaser spaceplane in 2021.
For commercial space, will China’s space program compete with US private companies? NASA seems intent on privatizing the Low Earth Orbit operations. With the ISS planned operations expected to end in 2024, NASA’s options diminish. Private space station concepts proposed by Bigelow aerospace might be a viable replacement for the ISS in a few years. Without a replacement for the ISS, will space experiments and operations in low earth orbit shift to China’s space station?
In most cases, American companies are motivated by profit. Currently, the profit derived by these companies comes from NASA’s commercial partner programs. Eventually, these companies need to stand on their own, but NASA remains a key cornerstone customer for American space companies.
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 the 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.
