[May 28, 1999] Cox Report Released A special congressional panel under Republican
Representative Christopher Cox released its long-awaited
700-page report Tuesday claiming China stole US secrets
of nuclear weapons, space technologies and
supercomputers, which China has angrily denied.
"This kind of report is surely aimed at poisoning
the relations between the two countries," Chinese
foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao told a news
conference. On the other side, Loral and Hughes, both
accused by the report, argues that the Cox committee
misinterpreted their actions, and predicted they would be
"exonerated of any illegal wrongdoing" when all
the facts finally emerge.
[May 28, 1999] AsiaSat Considers Early Launch of
AsiaSat 4 Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Ltd.
is considering accelerating the launch of its fourth
satellite by a year as demand for its existing
transponders increased. Rentals of the company's latest
AsiaSat 3S satellite were "much better than
expected, reflecting Asia's economic recovery," said
Peter Jackson, its chief executive. The strong rentals of
AsiaSat 3S may speed up the launch of AsiaSat4, which was
originally planned for late 2001. It could now be
launched as early as late 2000. AsiaSat is controlled by
Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) and China
International Trust & Investment Corp.(CITIC).
(Lateline News)
[May 22, 1999] DFH-3: Two Years in Space The DFH-3 (ChinaSat-6) communication satellite,
launched on May 20, 1997, has worked normally in space
for two years. It is China's second generation comsat and
the only China made comsat in operation. The satellite is
currently in good conditions and its 24 transponders all
are in use. During the past two years, it made dozens of
station keeping maneuvers and successfuly survived the
Leonid meteor storm . The oprational life of DFH-3 is 8
years. (CAST)
[May 22, 1999] Chinese Manned Launch Uses New
Booster China is preparing both a two-man spacecraft and
a new booster to launch it. Liu Zhixiong, vice president
of China Great Wall Industries, said that launch of the
spacecraft will not occur before 2000. He said
development of a large new Chinese booster using liquid
oxygen and kerosene was underway in connection with the
vehicle. In addition to the manned flight program, Liu
said that China plans, by end of May, to officially split
its space industry into two separate competing groups.
(AW&ST)
[May
18, 1999] SJ-5 Works Normally
The instrument on SJ-5 scientific satellite is working
normally, according to CSSAR, Center of Space Science
Application Research of Chinese Academy of Science. The
space fluid experiment image was received. SJ-5
(Shijian-5) is the first satellite based on CAST968 bus.
It weighs 298 kg and the operational life is about 3
months. SJ-5 was designed to test the platform with 3
different attitude control technologies. It also carries
instrument for space single particle study, space fluid
study, S-band high-speed data transmission and large
capacity solid storage experiments. (CSSAR)
[May 14, 1999] China Sets Timetable for Manned
Spacecraft Launch
China will try to launch its first spacecraft designed to
carry taikonauts (astronauts) around October 1. Officials
quoted in the Yangcheng Evening News said preparations of
a recoverable capsule were far ahead of schedule. The
October flight would be unmanned and used to test the
technology. But Li Jianzhong, director of the Chinese
Academy of Launch-Vehicle Technology, said that a manned
launch was "under preparation", and indicated
it would follow not far behind the test flight. (BBC,
Yangcheng Evening News, CAST)
[May 14, 1999] Taiwan to Invest in Kistler
Taiwan's China Development Industrial Bank said on
Thursday it would invest US$8 million in U.S.-based
Kistler Aerospace Corp's K-1 reusable satellite launcher
program. China Development said its board had agreed to
help finance the potentially revolutionary launch system
once Kistler has raised $142 million in the United States
and Taiwan. Taiwan has shown keen interest in the K-1
project. The finance ministry approved seven local banks'
joint $50 million investment in K-1 and local media have
said Kistler hoped to raise a further $50-200 million in
Taiwan in 1999. Kistler has agreed to transfer its
technology and set up a joint venture with Taiwan once
the technology is mature, local reports said. (Reuters)
[May 13, 1999] AsiaSat 3S Starts Commercial
Service
AsiaSat 3S, the fourth satellite of Asia Satellite
Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) started
commercial services on 8th May, following its launch on
21st March and the successful completion of in-orbit
testing. AsiaSat 3S is now operating at the orbital
position of 105.5 degrees East and replaces AsiaSat 1. At
the service launch, AsiaSat 3S offers 9 analogue and 22
digital television channels including Pakistan TV, CCTV-4
and STAR TV. Traffic transfer from AsiaSat 1 to AsiaSat
3S took place on 8th May. (AsiaSat)
[May 11, 1999] Clinton OKs Chinese launch for
Iridium
President Clinton removed the last roadblock Monday from
the launch of a Chinese rocket carrying a satellite into
space next month for the U.S.-led Iridium global paging
and telephone network. In a required report to Congress,
Clinton certified that the export of satellite fuels and
separation systems for the communications system would
not harm U.S. interests. The launch is scheduled for June
7. Specifically, Clinton said the exports were not
detrimental to the U.S. space launch industry. Further,
he said the material and equipment "will not
measurably improve the missile or space launch
capabilities" of China. (AP)
[May
11, 1999] Long March 4B Launch: More Details
Long March 4B rocket is an improved model of Long March
4A with enhanced third stage and fairing. It measures
44.1 metres in length and the first stage thrust is about
300 tonnes. Yesterday's launch is fully successful. The
FY-1C satellite was separated from the launcher 749
seconds after launch, and SJ-5, 814 seconds after. Both
satellites entered 870 kilometer solar synchronized
orbit, and both in good condition.
[May
10, 1999] First FY-1C Image Received
The National Satellite Meteorological Center announced
today that the FY-1C meteorological satellite is in a
good status after coming into the designed orbit. The
satellite's VIS images of the first orbit were
successfully received by the ground stations located both
in Beijing and Urumqi and the quality of the images is
fine. The IR channels of the instrument aboard satellite
will begin to work 30 days later after the launch. (NSMC)
[May 10, 1999] China Successfully Launches FY-1C
and SJ-5
A Chinese Long-March 4B rocket has successfully launched
two civilian satellites this morning. The rocket was
launched at 9:33 a.m. Beijing Time (0133 GMT) from the
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The payload included the
FY-1 meteorological satellite and the SJ-5 satellite
intended for scientific experiments. This is China's
first satellite launch this year and the maiden flight
for Long March 4B, a newer version of the Long March 4
with a payload capacity of 1,500 kilograms. (Xinhua, AFP)
[May 9, 1999] White House Says China Launch
Serves U.S. Interest
A report released May 7 by the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence states that U .S. satellite technology
transferred to China in 1995 and 1996 has improved
Beijing's rockets and missiles. White House released a
statement on the report. The statement says the
Administration are concerned that unauthorized assistance
and transfers of space launch vehicle and satellite
technology could assist China in the development of
future ballistic missiles. But White House believes that
the longstanding policy of permitting the launch of U.S.
commercial satellites by China, with strong technology
controls, serves United States' overall national
interest. (Newswire)
[May 5, 1999] China Aerospace Split: Further
Details
The split of China Aerospace Corporation (CASC) will
result two independent companies: China Space Science
& Technology Group and China Space Machinery &
Electronics Group (both are unofficial English
translation). They will be headed by Wang Liheng and Xia
Guohong, both currently are vice-director of CASC. The
split plan has been approved by Chinese government,
according to the source. The two groups are to be formed
and announced probably by end of this month. (Wenhuibao)