China's Wenchang Cosmodrome witnessed China's flying dream
On April 11, 2022, the Long March 7 Yaowu carrier rocket, which was carrying out the launch mission of the Tianzhou-4 cargo spacecraft, arrived at the Wenchang Cosmodrome. According to the plan, the first orbital launch of the Chinese space station this year will be carried out at the Wenchang Cosmodrome in coconut groves. As the "youngest" of China's four major launch sites, what kind of historical origin and mission does she have?
The Long March 7 carrier rocket and the Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft arrived in Wenchang, Hainan
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It has a long history and a blood heritage in aerospace
China's Wenchang Cosmodrome is China's youngest space launch base, compared with Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang three cosmodromes, its geographical location can meet the requirements of a new generation of carrier rockets in large-diameter rocket transportation, rocket flight debris landing area safety and other aspects.
The construction project of Hainan Space Launch Base was conceived in the mid-1990s, and after several rounds of demonstration research and scientific evaluation, it was decided to build a new generation of carrier rocket launch site in Wenchang, Hainan in 2007. As China's first coastal space launch base, China Wenchang Cosmodrome mainly undertakes the launch tasks of the "Tiangong" space station module and the "Tianzhou" cargo spacecraft, mainly responsible for the testing and launch of carrier rockets, spacecraft, space stations, payloads and astronaut system loading equipment at the launch site, and providing corresponding support conditions.
Wenchang Cosmodrome, China
In 2010, the vertical assembly test plant officially started construction, marking the full start of construction; in 2012, the construction of various systems and equipment and facilities was started synchronously; in 2014, after nearly 6 years of hard work, the launch site successfully passed the acceptance of engineering construction and the acceptance of test launch capability.
Launch tower at Wenchang Cosmodrome, China
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Go through multiple trials and achieve fruitful results
Although China's Wenchang Cosmodrome has not yet reached the "age of ten" after its completion and acceptance, in this land of sea breezes, it has witnessed one historic moment after another in China's manned spaceflight.
On June 25, 2016, the first flight of the long march 7, a new generation carrier rocket in the mainland, was successful.
The first flight of the Long March 7 was successful
On April 20, 2017, the mainland's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, was launched here, and it conducted three rendezvous and docking with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory and three propellant replenishment in orbit.
Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft is vertically transshipped
At 18:00 on the evening of May 5, 2020, the Long March 5B carrier rocket successfully completed its first mission at the Wenchang Cosmodrome in China.
The Long March 5B Yaoyi carrier rocket was launched instantly
On April 29, 2021, the continental space station and core module soared from here, and China officially entered the era of the space station.
On May 29 and September 20, 2021, the Tianzhou-2 and No. 3 cargo spacecraft took off again, successfully docking with the Tianhe core module, and the construction of the continental space station entered a critical stage of carrying forward the upper and lower levels...
The Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft is transported vertically
Wenchang Cosmodrome, because of its unique advantages, undertakes the important mission of building the Chinese space station: first, low latitude, high launch efficiency and cost ratio, and the same conditions can increase the carrying capacity of geosynchronous orbit by more than 15%; second, the shooting direction is wide and safe, the rocket is fired within 1,000 kilometers of the sea, and the wreckage landing area is at sea; the third is that the shipping is convenient and feasible, which can solve the problem that railways, roads and air transport cannot transport large-size rockets; fourth, non-toxic, non-polluting, and green environmental protection. It is the first launch site in mainland China to fully adopt new propellants such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and aviation kerosene.
Wenchang Cosmodrome is the only coastal launch site on the mainland
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Shouldering the historical mission, the future responsibility is heavy
On April 29, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a telegram congratulating the successful launch of the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station and said: "On the occasion of the successful launch mission of the space station Tianhe core module, on behalf of the Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, I would like to extend warm congratulations and sincere greetings to you! ”
From the Tianhe core module to the Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft, China's Wenchang Cosmodrome successfully completed three launch missions such as the space station's Tianhe core module and the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft in five months, playing an important role. In 2022, there will be four launch missions here, including the Qingtian and Dream experiment modules. The magnificent picture of "exploring the vast universe and building a space power" drawn by Chinese astronauts will gradually unfold here.
Space station day and core module launch
As the Tianzhou-4 cargo spacecraft and the Long March 7 carrier rocket meet here, the curtain slowly opens on the construction phase of the Chinese space station in orbit. Wenchang has witnessed countless brilliant moments in China's manned spaceflight. Now, we will work with her to witness the Chinese nation's flying dream and the swaying tail flame set sail again!
Source/ Official WeChat public account of China Manned Space Engineering Office
Video/ Liu Zekang, Du Xinxin
Editor/Yang Sishuang
Audit/Yang Jie
Executive Producer/Xu Chunmei
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