The CASIC Vice General Manager Liu Shiquan has revealed a concept of space vehicle at recent Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2017) in Beijing.
The new space vehicle as a new generation of the reusable vehicle for transport between space and ground, the aerospace vehicle can execute aerospace launch missions and take off from ground airport horizontally. It features advantages such as low cost, safety, convenience, and maneuverability.
It can be used as a manned vehicle or freight vehicle. As a manned vehicle, it can be used for space travel, astronaut transport, etc. which can provide passengers with comfort space flight experience As a freight vehicle. it can be used to launch various satellites, replenish goods in space station, and conduct space emergency rescue, etc. it also can provide aerospace launch service in time for user as required with low cost.
The two-stage to orbit fully reusable aerospace vehicle takes off horizontally from the airport, accelerates to climb up in the atmosphere, and conducts separation between first stage and the second stage at the attitude of 30 to 40km. After that, the first stage returns to land horizontally, while the second stage continues canting up to enter the near-earth orbit After transport mission is completed. the second stage will conduct reentry for return, and then land horizontally. Main technical specifications of the vehicle are as follows
- Take off mass 100-150t
- Payload: It can launch 2t-load to near-earth orbit at the altitude of 200 to 800km
- Reusable capability 100 times
