What are the new configurations of "one arrow with 22 stars" and "one arrow with many stars"? "Popularization of space science"

On February 27th, 2022, 1 1: 06, China successfully launched 22 sa

What are the new configurations of "one arrow with 22 stars" and "one arrow with many stars"? "Popularization of space science"

On February 27th, 2022, 1 1: 06, China successfully launched 22 satellites, including Taijing-3 0 1 satellite, with the Long March 8 carrier rocket at Wenchang Space Launch Site.

This mission is the first flight of the new configuration without booster, and it is also a multi-user launch. * * * Launched 22 satellites, setting a record for many satellites with one arrow in China.

Launching more than one satellite at a time really requires high technology, and only China, the Russian Federation, the United States, India, Japan and the European Space Agency have mastered this capability. However, the satellite is not the key, the most important thing is the launch technology.

0 1

China began to explore the technology of "killing many stars with one arrow" very early.

China's earliest launch of "multiple satellites with one arrow" can be traced back to September 20th 198 1 year. On the same day, the Storm-1 carrier rocket successfully launched three scientific experimental satellites, namely Shi Jian II, Shi Jian II A and Shi Jian II B. Since then, China has become the fourth country in the world to master the technology of "multiple satellites with one arrow".

2065438+On September 20, 2005, the Long March 6 carrier rocket successfully sent 20 tiny satellites into space, setting a record for the number of launches of a single satellite in China.

The first flight of the Long March 6 rocket

The technology of "multiple satellites with one arrow" is a launching technology that uses a launch vehicle to send several satellites into Earth orbit simultaneously or successively. "Multiple satellites with one arrow" is a superior launch mode, which can make full use of the carrying capacity of launch vehicles and reduce the cost of satellite launch.

The technology of "multiple satellites with one arrow" can be divided into two categories: one is to launch all loads into the same orbit; The other is to launch different satellites into their respective orbits.

These two launches have different requirements for launch vehicles. The first launch mission is to release the load in turn after the last stage of the launch vehicle is closed. Among them, the main problem to be considered is to avoid collision after each load release. In fact, this problem is not difficult to solve. As long as the speed is slightly different or the release time is slightly different, each satellite will generally "float" farther and farther. Because the relative speed of release is not large, even if it collides, it will not produce a lot of debris.

For the way of launching multiple satellites into different orbits, the launch vehicle is required to have the ability to change orbit after entering the initial orbit, which is beyond the reach of conventional launch vehicles.

The first flight of the Long March 7 rocket

China has done a lot of practice in this respect.

For example, on June 25, 20 16, the first flight of the Long March 7 rocket was successful. In this launch, Expedition No.1 flew with the upper stage and successfully achieved its first flight. After the upper stage of the A * * * instrument of Expedition 1 was separated from the Long March 7 rocket, five kinds of loads with six different requirements were "ferried" to different orbits, and the on-orbit demonstration and verification of new technologies such as scale return capsule, multi-satellite orbit change, on-orbit refueling and cubic star of a new generation of spacecraft were carried out.

02

The main load must be taken care of.

Generally speaking, a launch vehicle will have a main load for each launch mission. The main load can be one satellite or multiple satellites, but the number is generally not too much. Every launch mission of the launch vehicle is basically around the main load, that is, the target orbit and launch window are basically determined according to the requirements of the main load. Bearing can only confirm whether it can work on such a track, and then decide whether to bear it.

Compared with airborne load, the requirements of main load for launch are generally more complicated. Before launching, it is generally required to test the main load on the launch tower, and a wired or wireless test channel is generally guaranteed from the launch tower to the control center.

In addition, in many cases, the fairing of the launch vehicle is required to have a non-metallic wave-transparent window, so that the measurement and control signals of the main load can be reliably exchanged with the ground station before and during the launch of the launch vehicle.

Long March 11 rocket docking

Before the launch of the launch vehicle, researchers should do a lot of static and dynamic analysis to ensure that the load can withstand the harsh mechanical conditions during the launch of the launch vehicle, and if necessary, conduct joint vibration tests between the satellite and the rocket to ensure that there is no problem.

For the load, it will not be so considerate. In many cases, there is no signal interface between the payload and the launch vehicle, but when the payload is released, the satellite is told that it is in orbit and can start working through the travel switch and other equipment.

Generally, the launch mission will release the main load first. Before this, if the carrier load falls off or vibrates with the rocket during the acceleration process, it will also affect the safety of the main load, so the requirements for the carrier load are also based on the premise of not affecting the safety of the main mission.

03

Carrying a task will become the norm.

With the rapid development of electronic components and satellite payload technology, the functions of satellites are becoming more and more powerful. Micro-nano satellites weighing only a few kilograms to dozens of kilograms, or even smaller picosatellites, can accomplish many tasks that only large satellites can accomplish in the past.

A considerable number of such satellites are made of cheap commercial devices, and their launch costs are relatively expensive. Therefore, such satellites are often launched into orbit by means of transport. Generally speaking, they are not very "picky" about the type of orbit, and the requirements for the accuracy of orbit entry are not high. After the launch vehicle releases its main load, it has become a common phenomenon in recent years to put as many micro-nano satellites into orbit as possible by using the remaining carrying capacity.

Among these satellites, the cubic star has become a very important and popular standard star. They follow standard size specifications and mechanical and electrical interfaces. At present, the universal cubic star release device will not have any adverse impact and interference on the main load.

The new configuration of the Long March 8 made its first flight, and at the same time it created a new record of "multiple stars with one arrow" in China, which is really something to be proud of! In the future, China Aerospace will bring more surprises, so we will wait and see!

Source | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Aerospace News

Author | Yang Yuguang, Li Shuhuan, Fu Yifei,