Commercial roundup
CNSA deputy director Wu Yanhua turned up at the
2021 Wenchang International Aerospace Forum and pledged support for development of Hainan’s aerospace industry and space economy. Hainan will also host the 2022 China Space Day next April. (
Science and Technology Daily)
Interview with Gao Enyu (高恩宇), CEO of satellite developer and manufacturer
MinoSpace, discussing the development, prospects and challenges for the Chinese commercial sector.
(
MinoSpace)
Smart Satellite signs deal with CASIC (Haiyang) on synthetic aperture radar satellites (
Smart Satellite)
Launch firm
Space Pioneer secures a seventh round of funding, and is aiming for a first orbit launch in early 2022. It could be China’s first private medium-sized liquid rocket launch, with Landspace’s Zhuque-2 the other challenger. (
天兵科技)
Policy notes
Li Keqiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council Sept. 22, in which he underlined that space infrastructure will remain a priority: “Space-based information infrastructure will be improved for satellite communications, navigation, remote sensing and other purposes.” Additionally, a “ubiquitous and collaborative Internet of Things” will be developed. More on this last point in the future, as it’s a big deal. (
China News Service)
Wu Yansheng, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), the country’s main space contractor: “fulfill the sacred mission of developing the country and strengthening the military”. Wu made comments at a study meeting relating to the implementation of the 14th Five-year Plan involving CASC leadership. Wu made requisite statements on adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. (
CASC)
Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology establishes a financial sharing center (
SAST)
Exploration, human spaceflight updates
Shenzhou-13: The backup crew for Shenzhou-12–Zhai Zhigang (翟志刚), Wang Yaping (王亚平) and Ye Guangfu (叶光富)–could well
be the crew for Shenzhou-13. Zhai flew on Shenzhou 7, Wang became China’s second woman astro in space on Shenzhou-10 in 2013, and Ye has yet to fly. He participated in ESA’s CAVES analogue exploration training including alongside NASA astronauts in June 2016. Wang Yaping would become the first woman aboard the Chinese space station. (
Space.com).
China’s Manned Space Missions: A
documentary from Chinese state media CGTN looks at the history of Chinese human spaceflight, including footage from the Shuguang-1 (“Dawn-1”) project which aimed to put two astronauts in space in the 1970s, but could not be completed due to a “social turbulent era,” aka the Cultural Revolution. Efforts resumed on September 21, 1992, with the establishment of the 921 Project which set out a three-step path of putting an astronaut in space, testing EVAs and life support, and establishing the space station we see being constructed in orbit today. Includes lots of footage, interviews, statistics and overviews of launch capabilities. (
CGTN)