Chinese Super-Heavy Launcher Designs Exceed Saturn V

"Chinese engineers are proposing a Moon rocket more powerful
than the Saturn V of the Apollo missions and matching the
payload of NASA's planned Space Launch System (SLS) Block 2,
the unfunded launcher that would put the U.S. back into super-
heavy space lift.

Drawing up preliminary designs for the giant Long March 9
launcher, Chinese launch vehicle builder CALT has studied
configurations remarkably similar to those that NASA
considered in looking for the same capability: to lift 130
metric tons (287,000 lb.) to low Earth orbit (LEO). One of
the two preferred Chinese proposals has a similar
configuration to the design finally adopted for SLS Block 2,
though the takeoff mass for both CALT concepts, 4,100-4,150
tons, is greater. On that measure, at least, China wants to
build the largest space launcher in history."

See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article....p22-620995.xml

In article ,
says...

"Chinese engineers are proposing a Moon rocket more powerful
than the Saturn V of the Apollo missions and matching the
payload of NASA's planned Space Launch System (SLS) Block 2,
the unfunded launcher that would put the U.S. back into super-
heavy space lift.

Drawing up preliminary designs for the giant Long March 9
launcher, Chinese launch vehicle builder CALT has studied
configurations remarkably similar to those that NASA
considered in looking for the same capability: to lift 130
metric tons (287,000 lb.) to low Earth orbit (LEO). One of
the two preferred Chinese proposals has a similar
configuration to the design finally adopted for SLS Block 2,
though the takeoff mass for both CALT concepts, 4,100-4,150
tons, is greater. On that measure, at least, China wants to
build the largest space launcher in history."

See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article....p22-620995.xml

Interesting, but will they get the money to develop the thing? Until
then, it's yet another paper rocket.

Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer

On Monday, September 30, 2013 1:17:12 PM UTC-7, wrote:
"Chinese engineers are proposing a Moon rocket more powerful

than the Saturn V of the Apollo missions and matching the

payload of NASA's planned Space Launch System (SLS) Block 2,

the unfunded launcher that would put the U.S. back into super-

heavy space lift.



Drawing up preliminary designs for the giant Long March 9

launcher, Chinese launch vehicle builder CALT has studied

configurations remarkably similar to those that NASA

considered in looking for the same capability: to lift 130

metric tons (287,000 lb.) to low Earth orbit (LEO). One of

the two preferred Chinese proposals has a similar

configuration to the design finally adopted for SLS Block 2,

though the takeoff mass for both CALT concepts, 4,100-4,150

tons, is greater. On that measure, at least, China wants to

build the largest space launcher in history."

See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article....p22-620995.xml

Considering the fuel requirements for a more substantial fly-by-rocket lander, and their serious intentions of establishing their moon base, it makes perfect sense.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2013 9:17:12 AM UTC+13, wrote:
"Chinese engineers are proposing a Moon rocket more powerful

than the Saturn V of the Apollo missions and matching the

payload of NASA's planned Space Launch System (SLS) Block 2,

the unfunded launcher that would put the U.S. back into super-

heavy space lift.



Drawing up preliminary designs for the giant Long March 9

launcher, Chinese launch vehicle builder CALT has studied

configurations remarkably similar to those that NASA

considered in looking for the same capability: to lift 130

metric tons (287,000 lb.) to low Earth orbit (LEO). One of

the two preferred Chinese proposals has a similar

configuration to the design finally adopted for SLS Block 2,

though the takeoff mass for both CALT concepts, 4,100-4,150

tons, is greater. On that measure, at least, China wants to

build the largest space launcher in history."



See:



http://www.aviationweek.com/Article....p22-620995.xml

This was announced in 2011

http://www.chinesedefence.com/forums...n-landing.html

when the construction of the launchers began and were seen by Western spy satellites.

http://oi45.tinypic.com/10wp1qe.jpg

Ignored by most, it was reported in speciality press in 2012:

http://www.americaspace.com/wp-conte...ge-graphic.jpg

There are four launch centers in China. They a

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
Xichang Satellite Launch Center

ALL will have the capacity to support the outfitting and launch of the new Long-March 9 rockets. Unlike the US China has taken great pains to provide broad support by creating a thorough supply chain for its launcher and its payloads.

Much of the rocket will be reused and a program of continuous improvement is in place that will make it more reusable after each flight. Their ultimate goal is a highly reusable launch system that have bare minimum costs associated with them.

According to the Chinese press by 2016 they will have the capacity to fly 130 metric tons into LEO twice a week and send 50 tons to the moon, twice a week.

With this launch capacity the Chinese intend to;

(1) Deploy a large array of many-to-many satellite communications network;
(a) communications,
(b) wireless internet,
(c) banking,
(d) mediation,
(e) tele-presence,
(f) tele-robotics,
on a global scale. Folks in China will be able to work anywhere in the
world tele-robotically.

(2) Deploy 2 GW solar power satellite to GEO to beam energy to 1,000 ground
stations simultaneously, each at a rate of 2 MW. At $0.20 per kWh we
have $400 per hour per ground station, $400,000 per hour per satellite.
That's $3.5 billion per satellite per year. $105.0 billion over 30 yrs.
Per satellite.

(3) Use proceeds from communications and energy sales to support construction
of a lunar base and an expedition to Mars.

So, what sorts of things can you do with lunar trips at this time?

Well, lets look at what you can do with 130 tonnes in LEO;

Lunar Trip:

LEO to TLI: 2.95 km/sec
TLI to Lunar Surface: 2.40 km/sec
Lunar Surface to TEI: 2.40 km/sec
Corrections: 0.05 km/sec

Total: 7.80 km/sec

WATER FOUND ON MOON

India has discovered and mapped locations where water exists on the Moon. The same 2 GW power satellite that is deployed to justify construction of the highly reusable heavy lift launcher is also placed at the Lunar Lagrange Points 1 and 2. One between Earth and Moon and one beyond the Moon on a line connecting the centers of Earth and Moon.

SOLAR POWER SATELLITE 1 KM DIAMETER

The 130 tonne power satellite is primarily a thin sheet of reflective polymer that when fully inflated is 1 km in diameter. Sunlight is focused on to a 7.1 meter diameter array of 320 wafers, each up to 400 mm across. The satellite is equipped with solar pumped ion engines that are used for on orbit navigation and attitude control. The gas that is used to maintain the inflated optic's shape is also used as a propellant by the MEMS based solar pumped ion engines.

The 2 GW system when used to exclusively power the wafers in ion engine array mode, produce a jet of gas at 54 km/sec, and is capable of energizing 1.37 kg/sec of propellant producing 7.5 tonnes of thrust producing 1/17th gee of acceleration. So, 4.3 km/sec requires 9.95 metric tons of propellant gas be used to move the satellite from LEO to GEO. So, two hours of thrusting at this gee, and another six minutes at GEO to circularize the orbit six hours later is all that's needed. The satellite has 30 years of station keeping propellant on board.

The same process can send it to L1 or L2 with only 4.6 km/sec total delta vee. In this case it takes three to four days of coasting after application of thrust, and then another boost at altitude to stay in the desired location.

LASER POWER NET TO SUPPORT LUNAR OPERATIONS

The power satellites are first used internally and their use is advertised to promote power sales.

With three satellites in GEO, and one at L1 and another at L2, we have an array capable of supporting very interesting missions to the moon.

Recall we have a launch rate of two per week from China using their network of interoperating launch centers. Each launch places 130 tonnes into LEO. Laser energy beamed from the satellites send energy to an ion engine array that energizes 6.91 tonnes of propellant to impart 2.95 km/sec delta vee to the 130 tonne orbiting payload. Another 1.14 km/sec delta vee is removed by the ion engine as the now 123 tonne payload blows away 2.6 tonnes to enter Low Lunar Orbit. The lander, separates from the ion engine array and uses hydrogen oxygen rockets to impart 1.87 km/sec delta vee to bring 72.7 tonnes to rest on the lunar surface. This system burns 31.5 tonnes lox and 5.7 tonnes Lh2. This leaves 10.4 tonne ion engine array in Low Lunar Orbit.

On the lunar surface the lander is refuelled with LOX and LH2. This is made from 51.3 kiloliters of water found on the lunar surface and broken down into 45.6 tonnes of oxygen and 5.7 tonnes of hydrogen twice a week using only 3 MW of the 2 GW laser beam capacity! The 12.1 tonnes of surplus oxygen is stored at the base for use in the base's atmosphere. This rate of production is sufficient to support 1,728 persons!

The lander is capable of putting 65 tonnes on the lunar surface, and removing 65 tonnes. With flight rate of twice per week, this is 6,760 tonnes per year. Sufficient to support 8,500 people on the moon permanently.

The lander after refuelling, is ready to launch 65 tonnes away from the moon. The Chinese would not be remiss in this regard. They would take the most interesting things found on the moon, and ship them back to Earth, *creating* a market for them in the world.

There would also be a powerful tourism market!

To put 65 tonnes or 65,000 kg into perspective, consider

Airbus 330 200 F - 70,000 kg 475 m3
Boeing C-17 Globemaster - 70,000 kg

Similar to the fictional spaceship Aries 1B from the movie 2001.

http://www.starbase79.com/images/200...2001Aries1.JPG
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/2001/sj_aries.htm

Yet, using this as a template, we obtain a sphere for the Chinese spacecraft of 35 feet (10.5 m) in diameter which provides the primary hull. A dozen 8.5 ft (2.6 m) diameter propellant spheres carry hydrogen and oxygen for the vehicle outside the main hull. These also double as liquid carriers. A 35 foot diameter by 5 foot deep ion engine array, with fold out laser receiver - provide ion propulsion which remains on orbit.

With 2.2 meter - deck height and 2.4 meter deck to deck - four usable levels are obtained. Two decks are 11.8 m in diameter and total 90.5 sq m each. Two decks are 8.4 m in diameter and total 54.3 sq m each. A total usable area of 289.6 sq m. This carries 318 people to 518 people depending on configuration.

Since the ship arrives at Low Lunar Orbit after visiting the moon and rejoins with the ion stage empty of the propellant it arrived at the moon with, and after burning the fuel it was refuelled with, it masses only 72.7 tonnes instead of 110.0 tonnes. So, only 1.8 tonnes of propellant are needed to break out of Lunar Orbit and return to Earth.

Arriving at Earth the spherical ship, with the ion stage trailing it, folds away the laser receivers used by the ion stage and enters the Earth's atmosphere. There after slowing to subsonic speeds the lander executes its last vertical landing using 4.2 tonnes of hydrogen oxygen propellant to drop from terminal velocity to zero velocity at zero altitude.

After landing, and unloading, the vehicle is then processed, reloaded and attached to a Long March 9 launcher to be used again.

One launch every 14 days from each of the four launch centers in China provides 2 trips per week to the moon.

LUNAR TOURISM

There are 29 million millionaires in the world today with over $87.5 trillion in their bank accounts, according to Credit Suisse. At 100 per day, or 36,500 persons per year at a profit of $100,000 each - this earns $3.65 billion per year for lunar tourism.

LUNAR DEVELOPMENT

There are also property development deals, similar to those offered by the Chinese to the wealthy today;

http://shanghaiist.com/2013/05/07/sh..._in_20 12.php

http://www.luxuryportfolio.com/searc...E-1245A36FC0C3

At $10 million to $100 million and about 2% of the visitors deciding to live on the moon, 730 homes per year - built on the moon. At $5 million profit per home - this doubles the revenue from the tourism operation.

PROSPECTORS

The Chinese government would use these revenues to support lunar prospecting operations. Approximately 1,200 of the 8,000 people permanently on the moon would be supporting this activity, dedicated to cataloguing all the resources on the moon, for ultimate development. As interesting things are found that are easily exported from the moon, they are returned - not leaving any returning ship empty.

LUNA CITY

The culture will also be developed around this mix of activities and promoted on Earth to created new brands that are sold world wide. Which is what China is getting very good at anyway.

http://www.entershanghai.info/expat-lifestyle/