Automation Station

Reentry capsule testbed concludes Long March 7 mission, ushers new era for Chinese space program. After orbiting the Earth for more than 20 hours, a Chinese testbed spacecraft landed in the Mongolian desert yesterday, June 26.                                                 Designed by CASC - the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation - the capsule is a technological pathfinder for the eventual replacement of the crewed Shenzhou spacecraft. Around 60% the size of the eventual spacecraft, it measures 7.5 feet tall and 8.5 feet wide, and weighs in at over 2.6 tons.

China’s next generation crew capsule testbed module in preflight processing. 

The key objectives of the 12 orbit, 20 hour flight was “to collect aerodynamic and heat data for a re-entry capsule, to verify key technologies such as detachable thermal protection structure and lightweight metal materials manufacturing, and to carry out blackout telecommunication tests,” according to CASC.

The capsule was one of several payloads on the maiden flight of the Long March 7 rocket, with lifted off June 25, on the first mission from China’s newest spaceport on Hainan island. Accompanying the capsule into orbit were two data relay satellites, a debris-clearing testbed satellite named Aolong-1, and a scientific cubesat.

Graphic of the reentry capsule attached to the Long March 7′s Yuanzheng-1A   upper stage. The capsule is located on the right of the image.

China is the third country to launch a crewed spacecraft technology demonstrator in the last two years. America launched Orion in December 2014, with India’s CARE module a few weeks later. It’s also the third country to debut a new medium-class launch vehicle in the last year, behind Russia’s Angara, and India’s GSLV Mk III.

Finally, the launch from Hainan island inaugurated the Wenchang space center, the second new spaceport to be constructed and used, behind Russia’s Vostochny in April, 2015. Both space centers are intended for long-term use, with the majority of launch operations converted over within the next few decades.

Long March 7 launches from Wenchang space center, June 25, 2016, carrying multiple payloads into orbit, including a reentry capsule testbed.

How do you create more space…in space? The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) is one solution to creating additional working space on the International Space Station.

BEAM will be deployed to its full size this Thursday, May 26, and begin its two-year technology demonstration attached to the space station. The astronauts aboard will first enter the habitat on June 2, and re-enter the module several times a year throughout the test period. While inside, they will retrieve sensor data and assess conditions inside the module.

Why Use an Expandable Habitat?

Expandable habitats are designed to take up less room on a spacecraft, but provide greater volume for living and working in space once expanded. This first test of an expandable module will allow investigators to gauge how well it performs and specifically, how well it protects against solar radiation, space debris and the temperature extremes of space.

BEAM launched April 8 aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft, and is an example of our increased commitment to partnering with industry to enable the growth of commercial use of space.

Get Involved!

During expansion, we will provide live updates on NASA Television starting at 5:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 26.

Ahead of the expansion, we will host a Facebook Live Q&A with engineers and team members from NASA and Bigelow Aerospace. Tune in on Tuesday, May 24 at 5 p.m.

We will also host a Reddit Science Q&A on Tuesday at 6 p.m. where we will continue to answer questions about Thursday’s expansion.

Make your own origaBEAMi!

To coincide with the expansion, here is a simple and fun activity called “origaBEAMi” that lets you build your own miniature inflatable BEAM module. Download the “crew procedures” HERE that contain step-by-step instructions on how to print and fold your BEAM module. You can also view a “how to” video HERE.