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On April 24, 1970, China’s first artificial Earth satellite, Dongfanghong-1, was successfully launched, and has since opened the Chinese space age. Fifty years ago, Dongfanghong-1 made China the fifth country in the world after the Soviet Union, the United States, France, and Japan to successfully launch a domestic artificial terrestrial satellite. Fifty years later, the satellite is still in orbit, witnessing the development and achievements of China’s satellite and aerospace industries.
Why can Dongfanghong-1 fly in orbit for 50 years?
Due to the strong carrying capacity of the Long March 1 launch vehicle, the Dongfanghong 1 satellite has a high starting point. Its total weight is 173 kg, more than the total weight of the first satellite launched by the first four countries. Public information shows that the first human satellite launched by the Soviet Union weighed 83.6 kg, the first satellite launched by the United States, France and Japan had a mass of 8.2 kg, 38 kg and 9.4 kg, respectively. Much lighterThe Dongfanghong-1 satellite works with a perigee of 439 km and a peak of 2384 km. This orbit is also higher than the orbit of the first satellite launched by the United States and the Soviet Union.
The founder of WeChat’s public account, the little rocket, Dr. Xing Qiang, told Global Times reporters on 23 that the completion of the entire Dongfanghong-1 satellite system is modernly very high. In addition to orbital height and weight, the mission was not only to use a rocket to send satellites into orbit, but its cargo also accomplished high-level operations. For example, to play “Dongfanghong” music in orbit, it was necessary to ensure beautiful music. Also consider the Doppler effect. Furthermore, for all countries and regions that may be covered by satellites, China provided very accurate orbit predictions. The Dongfanghong-1 satellite comprehensively reflected China’s presence in the launch vehicle, satellite platform, payload, uplink section and orbital section. Orbit measurement and control technology, these four systems have been solved well in one task. The degree of fulfillment of this mission is very different from that of other countries, which indicates that it was not to reach the five most important nodes in the world, but to carry out a very systematic construction to carry out this launch.
The “Global Times” reporter learned from the Aerospace Science and Technology Group on the 23rd that during the development of the Dongfanghong-1, Chinese researchers have outgrown rocket connection and separation technology, the design of the latest observation skirt of rockets, the launch and deployment of the satellite antenna, A number of technologies and processes, such as gold plating on the instrument compartment cover, thermal vacuum simulation experiments, and the development and testing of infrared horizons, have Outperformed the first satellite in other countries in terms of tracking orbit measurement technology, signal transmission method, and thermal control technology.
At the recently held memorial symposium, academic Qi Fakun said that the launch of the Dongfanghong-1 satellite has broken the Soviet Union, Europe and the United States’ monopoly on cutting-edge space technology. “When we get involved in Dongfanghong No. 1, we don’t use a foreign component, all made by the Chinese themselves,” said Qi Faxu.
Xing Qiang said that Dongfanghong No. 1 has been in orbit for 50 years, which is also a remarkable achievement. One is because the height of the track mentioned above is relatively high, and the other reason is that the track incline design is very smart. At that time, the Chinese aerospace engineering team chose one that not only made full use of the rocket’s capacity, but also considered regional coverage capabilities, to allow more countries and regions to receive music and see the orbit of Chinese satellites. Precisely because of the “elegant” combination of the orbital altitude and the orbital inclination of the Dongfanghong-1 satellite, it may still be in orbit 50 years later. Even the first satellite of a space power like the United States did not do this.
Experts classify transcripts of the “Dongfanghong” family
The launch of Dongfanghong No. 1 opened the prelude to China’s space exploration. Since then, China has continually enriched the types of artificial satellites on earth. Around Dongfanghong-1’s 50th anniversary in orbit, many well-known national aerospace experts solved the development achievements of Chinese satellites in the past 50 years.
Chinese aerospace expert Pang Zhihao told the Global Times reporter on 23 that China’s satellite development can be divided into three stages: the first stage is the technical readiness stage (1956-1970), which has completed basic research. for Dongfanghong No. 1 in Mission Orbit. The second phase is the technical test phase (1971-1984). The main achievements are the development, launch and operation of return remote sensing satellites, experimental communication satellites and scientific test satellites for exploration and technology. The third stage is the engineering application stage (since 1985). At this stage, China’s satellite engineering has moved from technical testing to engineering applications, and four series of satellites have been put into use one after the other.
Pang Zhihao said that when China’s satellite engineering moved from technical testing to engineering application, the initial operation phase of the satellite business, which was primarily based on operational testing of the satellite business, had few types of satellites, short lifespan and many failures. Since 2000, it has entered the comprehensive operation stage of the satellite business. Not only are there many types and numbers of satellites, but the “gold content” has also been greatly improved. For example, remote sensing satellites have been developed from recycling to transmission; Communications satellites have evolved from gyro stability and small capacity to triaxial stability and large capacity; Three generations of navigation satellites have been developed and launched.
Experts said the appointment of the series “Dongfanghong” has also undergone a process of change. Dongfanghong-1 is China’s first satellite, and China has successively developed three generations of geostationary communication satellite platforms: Dongfanghong-2, 3, and 4, of which the second and third have the same satellite name, while the fourth is just used as the platform name. Among them, number 2 is a small capacity satellite platform, number 3 is a medium capacity satellite platform and number 4 is a large capacity satellite platform. Dongfanghong No. 5 being tested is a large capacity platform.
According to data provided by the Aerospace Science and Technology Group, over the past 50 years, China has independently developed 17 types of Long March series launch vehicles, successfully implemented more than 300 launches, and dispatched more than 500 ships. Space to Space with a 96% success rate, reliability and security. The performance and precision of the orbit reach the world leading level. Over the past 50 years, manned space flight and deep space exploration have continuously made significant strides. China has become one of the few countries in the world to independently master major technologies such as manned space travel, space egress, space rendezvous and docking, and supplementation of orbiting thrusters. . In 2019, the Chang’e-4 mission was successfully completed. For the first time in human history, the spacecraft’s soft landing and patrol inspection at the back of the moon was accomplished, entering a new era of exploration of the mysteries of the deep-space universe. In the past 50 years, the Beidou Navigation Project has successfully launched 54 satellites and will complete the constellation network this year to build a Beidou satellite navigation system that covers the entire world. The high-scoring satellites have been launched and put into use one after the other, which will significantly improve China’s ability to observe remote sensing of the earth. It has a stable operating system with space-time coordination, all-weather, all-weather capability, and global observation. .
According to Dong Yaohai, the lead designer of the Fengyun-4 satellite, Chinese astronauts have now used the second generation of the 4 series of 17-type Fengyun meteorological satellites to explore a path for the development of meteorological satellites with Chinese characteristics, resulting in the triumph of meteorological satellites in China, the United States and Europe. Pattern
Foreign media are also very concerned about the achievements of China Aerospace. The Pakistan Post said that in the past year, China has worked hard to promote the development of space science. China’s Chang’e-4 probe landed on the back of the moon early last year. Yutu-2 has become the longest lunar rover on the moon. During the outbreak of new coronary pneumonia, China’s high-scoring satellite and Beidou navigation system provided technical assistance for the construction of the refuge hospital.
Xing Qiang said that after 50 years of development, from an orbital perspective, Chinese satellites have covered low, medium and high orbital heights from small to high inclination. “Dongfanghong” is no longer the name of a satellite, but a model spectrum. And family. From the perspective of industry maturity, the three main areas of communications, remote sensing, and navigation have relatively complete systems.
Main monitoring development direction
With the development of technology, China’s spacecraft has also evolved from man-made ground satellites to manned spacecraft and deep space probes, driving China from fifth place worldwide to the forefront. But experts believe that these results are excellent, but there are still many important technologies that must be overcome in the future.
According to the American weekly “Time”, from artificial satellites to the moon and Mars, China is fast becoming a “space superpower” in these fields. Bloomberg said China is fighting with the United States on another planet. China’s space agency is preparing to carry out a mission to detect Mars this year. This task is the most ambitious project on China’s exploration list. Its goal is to obtain the same status as NASA and to convert China’s scientific and technological knowledge into real products.
Xing Qiang said that from the successful launch of the first satellite in 1970 to 2020, China has successfully carried out more than 300 space launches. In terms of the number of active satellites in orbit, it is the second in the world, second only to the United States. This achievement is remarkable. Xing Qiang summarized the main tasks of China’s follow-up development as large, long and distant. “Big” is completing the construction of the space station as soon as possible based on the development of multiple orbiting and multi-tilting satellite lineages, backed by a new generation of manned spacecraft and cargo spacecraft. Explore to provide a wealth of technical reserves and an irreplaceable scientific research platform for cutting-edge medicine, industrial production, and basic science. “Too much” is to see that the era of single-star performance indicators is about to pass, and the era of “spelling constellations” will come soon. Only by relying on the orbit of a large number of active satellites and forming a dynamic, self-organizing and self-managed giant constellation can we guarantee China’s future orbit and spectrum resources in space. To this end, China should take the opportunity to further advance the construction of giant low-orbit constellations. “Far” is focusing on deep-space exploration missions of great strategic importance. Although China has already accomplished the probe’s lunar landing, the human return to the moon plan has always inspired world aerospace engineers. In the future, he will also be looking for new ideas and tasks on the tasks of the human return to the moon, the first human landing on Mars and asteroid mining. Away. These major future tasks depend on subsequent advancements in key satellite technologies, such as high-reliability, high-power electric propulsion engines that can run continuously for a long time, and low-orbit interstellar communication, which are relatively cutting-edge technologies in the field of human space. In these areas, China and the world’s leading aerospace powers are on the same starting line.
