China's space cargo shuttle highlights reusablity, cost-saving

China's Haolong space cargo shuttle, which will be unveiled at the upcoming 15th China Air Show, highlights outstanding reusability, which will significantly reduce the cost of cargo transport mission in space.

The space shuttle, developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), was among the winning projects of China's development plans for low-cost cargo spacecraft and manned lunar rover.

It has been awarded a contract for the engineering flight verification phase, and will be officially unveiled at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, which will be held in south China's Zhuhai City from Nov. 12 to 17.

The developers said that Haolong can re-enter the atmosphere and land horizontally, realizing reuse in a flight-like manner, which will greatly reduce the cost of cargo transport mission in space.

The Haolong space cargo shuttle is a large-winged spacecraft. It will be sent into the space station's orbit by a carrier rocket. After entering orbit, it will unfold its wings immediately, approach the space station, and conduct rendezvous and docking through orbital maneuvering strategies such as long-range autonomous guidance and short-range autonomous control.

"During the docking period, the cargo hold of Haolong will be opened and connected to the space station cabin, and astronauts can enter and exit the cargo hold freely to fetch the cargo brought to the space station or place the materials to be sent to earth according to their needs. After completing the cargo transport mission, Haolong will separate from the space station, autonomously deorbit and brake, re-enter the atmosphere, and land horizontally on the designated airport runway without power with due energy management. After inspection, maintenance and repair, it will be able to perform cargo transport missions again," said Fang Yuanpeng, chief designer of Haolong space cargo shuttle.

At present, the design scheme of the space shuttle has been completed, and the project has entered the stage of full-scale engineering research and development.

"We applied the latest technological achievements to Haolong, giving new vitality to the space shuttle. Haolong has strong maneuverability, giving it more chances and a wider window for returning safely. At the same time, we have better flight mechanics environment today, and landing on the airport runway facilitates the rapid intervention of ground support resources, making the space shuttle safer, more reliable and more convenient for the mission," Fang said.

China's space cargo shuttle highlights reusablity, cost-saving

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday slammed Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te over his latest remarks on cross-Strait relations, accusing him of promoting secessionism and escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a press release that Lai's speech marking his second anniversary in office was "filled with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation."

Chen accused Lai of stubbornly adhering to a secessionist stance in pursuit of "Taiwan independence," while exaggerating the so-called threats from the mainland and intensifying confrontation across the Strait.

Lai played an old trick of advocating the secessionist agenda on one hand and, on the other, calling insincerely for dialogue and exchanges with the mainland, attempting to mislead people in Taiwan and deceive the international community, he said.

Chen said that these common tricks have been seen through by more and more Taiwanese people. Their deceptive and provocative actions will be met with firm opposition from compatriots on both sides and the international community, and are doomed to fail.

Reaffirming the mainland's position on the Taiwan question, Chen said Taiwan has never been a country, is not one now, and will never become one in the future.

He described the Taiwan question as a historical issue left over from a Chinese civil war in the 1940s.

No election result in Taiwan could alter the fact that Taiwan is part of China or sever the historical and legal bonds linking the two sides of the Strait, according to Chen.

The mainland would never allow any person or force to pursue secessionist activities under any pretext, he added.

Calling secessionists "the chief culprit" who undermines cross-Strait peace, Chen said the mainland would continue to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite broadly with Taiwan compatriots, combat secessionist activities, and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait.

Central government spokesperson refutes Lai Ching-te's latest remarks, warns against secessionist moves