China develops first solid-fuel launch vehicle [Pioneer I mobile rocket test-fired]

Xinhua News ^ | September 24, 2003

[HAL9000]

BEIJING, Sept. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- China has successfully test-fired its first four-stage solid-fuel launch vehicle capable of putting small satellites into space, a spokesperson for the developer said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson for China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp (CASIC) said that the successful test on Sept. 16 at north China's Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center makes China the third country in the world capable of developing such rockets after the United States and Russia.

The newly-developed rocket is capable of putting up to 100-kg satellites into orbit around the earth for resources exploration, environmental monitoring and survey, scientific experiments and other purposes, said the spokesperson.

"Compared with powerful launch vehicles that use liquid fuel, the solid-fuel launch vehicle, popularly known as Pioneer I, requires much less preparation time to launch, and is much easier to operate."

It takes only 12 hours or even less to get ready to launch a satellite using the Pioneer I rocket, while about three months' time is required for a liquid-fuel launch vehicle, including shipping the vehicle, installation and testing, and filling it with liquid fuel, said the spokesperson.

The Pioneer I rocket can be launched from a mobile pad, and it is easier to make its traveling speed much faster, he added.

Xia Guohong, general manager of CASIC, said that Chinese rocketexperts at the company will conscientiously sum up the useful experience gained from the experiment, and strive to put a small satellite into space at an early date using the rocket.

[snopercod]

...capable of putting small satellites into space

...or nuclear warheads on Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.

[zarf]

Oh please. They can already do it. China's a rational actor on the world stage. I'm more worried about the ragheads. They make the Chinese out to be puppies.

[Happy Hamster]

Start digging that fallout shelter shelter. We can all thank the Clintonistas for this.

[snopercod]

Obviously you don't understand the difference between a 60s-era liquid fuelled ICBM and an 80s-era solid propellant ICBM.

The first takes several hours to prepare for launch, and the second takes only minutes.

[Poohbah]

The first takes several hours to prepare for launch, and the second takes only minutes.

Not that we could detect the launch preparations for the liquid-fueled ICBM...

BTW, the Jupiter IRBM couldn't put a nuke on Beijing or Shanghai unless it was based in Guam, but it could put a small satellite into orbit.

[snopercod]

Not that we could detect the launch preparations for the liquid-fueled ICBM...

I believe we can. You can see the propellant trucks near the launch pads, and certain venting. I'm not aware that China has self-contained underground silos, but I could be wrong.

[Poohbah]

I believe we can. You can see the propellant trucks near the launch pads, and certain venting. I'm not aware that China has self-contained underground silos, but I could be wrong.

You're wrong. They're self-contained silos, and the fuel is transferred via underground pipes.

Since the DF-5 is basically a Titan II knock-off, it's probably capable of being fueled in less than ten minutes.

[RightWhale]

In the ICBM version, international safety would be increased since the urgency and advance planning to coordinate launches of liquid fuel rockets is eliminated. Everybody can relax a little.

[zarf]

Obviously, you don't understand if we get to that point....kiss yours and my and everyone elses butt goodbye.