Chinese Deep Space Network

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Chinese Deep Space Network
China Emblem PLA.svg
Emblem of the People's Liberation Army
Active1993;31 years ago (1993)
CountryFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Republic of China
AllegianceFlag of the Chinese Communist Party.svg Chinese Communist Party
Branch PLASSF.svg People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force
Part ofPeople's Liberation Army Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Liberation Army
China edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Kashi
Red pog.svg
Jiamusi
Red pog.svg
Kunming
Red pog.svg
Ürümqi
Red pog.svg
Miyun
Green pog.svg
FAST
Blue pog.svg
Qitai
Green pog.svg
21CMA
Green pog.svg
CSRH
Red pog.svg
Tian Ma
Red pog.svg
Sheshan
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Chinese Deep Space Network and radioastronomy facilities in China   in use ·  planned ·  radioastronomy facility

The Chinese Deep Space Network (CDSN) is a network of large antennas and communication facilities that are used for radio astronomy, radar observations, and spacecraft missions of China. The CDSN is managed by the China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control Center General (CLTC) of the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force Space Systems Department. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

The network was first needed for the lunar mission Chang'e 1, [5] [6] and since has been used to support subsequent missions to the Moon and Mars such as Chang'e 5, and Tianwen-1 missions. Similar deep space networks are run by the United States, Russia, European countries, Japan, and India.

Introduction

Nanshan 25-meter radio telescope at Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO), Chinese Academy of Sciences. XAO Nanshan 25-m radio telescope 2007-08-22.jpg
Nanshan 25-meter radio telescope at Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO), Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In principle, a Chinese deep space network has existed since 1993 with the commissioning of the Nanshan 25-meter telescope in the mountains south of Ürümqi. The 25-meter antenna of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory was then not only able to participate in the Southern Hemisphere VLBI Experiment program, but also to form its own Chinese baseline together with Ürümqi and observe and measure distant objects.

All stations are equipped with high-precision hydrogen maser clocks and connected via powerful communication networks. All stations comply with the provisions of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), so data exchange with the systems of other space agencies is possible despite different technical equipment.

The antennas of Sheshan, Ürümqi, Miyun, Kunming and Tianma can be interconnected to form a national association and in this way form the Chinese VLBI Network (CVN), a VLBI telescope the size of China. The evaluation of the data from the CVN takes place in the VLBI observation base Sheshan of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. The facilities in Shanghai and Ürümqi are also integrated into the European VLBI Network (EVN).

Network

Tianma 65-meter radio telescope at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO), Chinese Academy of Sciences. Shanghai 65-meter Tianma Radio Telescope.jpg
Tianma 65-meter radio telescope at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO), Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In 2007, the network consisted of:

In 2012, improvements were made to support Chang'e 3 and Chang'e 4 Moon missions, including: [7]

The Espacio Lejano Station of the Chinese Deep Space Network. Antena de la CONAE-CLTC Neuquen.jpg
The Espacio Lejano Station of the Chinese Deep Space Network.

In 2014, China and Argentina signed an agreement allowing China to construct the Espacio Lejano Station. [1] [8] The station was built in Neuquén Province, Argentina (~70°W), with a 50 million-dollar investment. The facility, a part of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, [9] [10] was inaugurated in October 2017. [11] The station is seen by some as a symbol of China's increased role in South America's politics and economy. [12]

Since 2018, China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General (CLTC) was a customer of the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), which provided CLTC services, including TT&C for pre-defined civilian satellites within research, Earth observation and weather data as well as for other scientific spacecraft. [13] It was reported by Reuters on 21 September 2020 that SSC decided not to renew its contracts with China to help operate Chinese satellites from SSC's ground stations, or seek new business with China. [14]

In late 2020, the Kashgar ground station was upgraded from one single 35-meter antenna to an antenna array consisting of four 35-meter antennas. The capacity of the new system was equivalent to a 66-meter antenna. [15]

Systems for radio astronomy

Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) as seen from above in 2020. FAST Radio Telescope (captured from video).jpg
Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) as seen from above in 2020.
Primeval Structure Telescope (PaST), also called 21 Centimeter Array (21CMA). 21-Centimetre Array pods of the Primeval Structure Telescope, pointing to the North Celestial Pole.jpg
Primeval Structure Telescope (PaST), also called 21 Centimeter Array (21CMA).

Radio astronomy, despite using similar large antennas, is a very different field than spacecraft communication. There is no need to transmit, and the receiving bands are chosen for scientific interest.

Planned or under construction stations

Relay satellites

China has several relay satellites of the Tianlian series in geostationary orbits, which can relay data to each other and to the ground, thus enabling communication with spacecraft that have no direct contact with ground stations. The technology of the relay satellites enables intermediate storage of data, a higher bandwidth of data connections, and greater sky coverage. These satellites were originally placed in orbit in 2008 for communication with the Shenzhou spacecraft of the crewed space program. But they are also used for deep-space missions, for example in 2020 for the Mars mission Tianwen-1, where the satellites Tianlian 1B and Tianlian 2A were parked for orbit tracking and the transmission of telemetry data from the probe. [28]

Moon missions

Planetary missions

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Eyes on the Skies: China's Growing Space Footprint in South America". Center for Strategic and International Studies . 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "China Satellite Launch and Tracking Control General (CLTC)". Nuclear Threat Initiative. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  3. ↑ Dinatale, Martín (8 September 2014). "Preocupa el eventual uso militar de un área espacial de China en el Sur". La Nación (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  4. ↑ Garrison, Cassandra (31 January 2019). "China's military-run space station in Argentina is a 'black box'". Reuters . Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  5. ↑ Xie, Renjiang (14 February 2007). "Gearing up for Chang'e". Astronomy. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Yan, Jianguo; Ping, Jing-Song; Li, Fei (2008). Precise orbit determination of Smart-1 and Chang'E-1. 37th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Bibcode:2008cosp...37.1381J.
  7. ↑ "China Builds Deep Space Network" (PDF). China Science and Technology Newsletter. No. 606. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Watson-Lynn, Erin (9 June 2020). "The gravity of China's space base in Argentina". The Interpreter. Lowy Institute. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Chinese space station is "for exclusively scientific and civilian purposes": Argentine gov't". Xinhua News Agency. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Lee, Victor Robert (24 May 2016). "China Builds Space-Monitoring Base in the Americas". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  11. ↑ Dinatale, Martín (28 January 2018). "Tras la polémica por su eventual uso militar, la estación espacial de China en Neuquén ya empezó a funcionar". Infobae (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  12. ↑ Londoño, Ernesto (28 July 2018). "From a Space Station in Argentina, China Expands Its Reach in Latin America". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "Appendix for SSC's Chinese customers" (PDF). Swedish Space Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  14. ↑ Ahlander, Johan; Barrett, Jonathan (21 September 2020). "Swedish space agency halts new business helping China operate satellites". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  15. ↑ Li, Guoli; Lü, Binghong (18 November 2020). "我国首个深空天线组阵系统正式启用" (in Chinese (China)). Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  16. ↑ Jin, C.; Cao, Y.; Chen, H.; Gao, J.; Gao, L.; Kong, D.; Su, Y.; Wang, M. (2006). "The Miyun 50 m Pulsar Radio Telescope". Chinese Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics. 6: 320. doi: 10.1088/1009-9271/6/S2/59 . S2CID   120782642.
  17. ↑ Zhang, X.Z.; Piao, T.Y.; Kang, L.S.; Pang, L. (2002). Pramesh Rao, A.; Suiarup, G.; Gopal-Krishna (eds.). "Solar Observation with Miyun Radio Telescope". The Universe at Low Radio Frequencies IAU Symposium. 199: 430–431. Bibcode:2002IAUS..199..430Z. doi: 10.1017/S0074180900169517 . S2CID   118095827.
  18. ↑ 2020中国火星探测计划（根据叶院士报告整理）. spaceflightfans.cn (in Chinese (China)). 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  19. ↑ Sarkissian, John (6 August 2012). "The Parkes MSL EDL Track". CSIRO Parkes Observatory. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  20. ↑ Esterhuizen, S.; Asmar, S. W.; De, K.; Gupta, Y.; Katore, S. N.; Ajithkumar, B. (March 2019). "ExoMars Schiaparelli direct-to-earth observation using GMRT". Radio Science. 54 (3): 314–325. Bibcode:2019RaSc...54..314E. doi: 10.1029/2018RS006707 .
  21. ↑ Dong, Guangliang; Li, Haitao; Hao, Wanhong; Wang, Hong; Zhu, Zhiyong; Shi, Shanbin; Fan, Min; Zhou, Huan; Xu, Dezhen (April 2018). 中国深空测控系统建设与技术发展 [Development and Future of China's Deep Space TT&C System]. Journal of Deep Space Exploration (in Chinese (China)). 5 (2): 99–114. doi:10.15982/j.issn.2095-7777.2018.02.001. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  22. ↑ Morabito, David D.; Schratz, Brian; Bruvold, Kris; Ilott, Peter; Edquist, Karl; Cianciolo, Alicia Dwyer (15 May 2014). "The Mars Science Laboratory EDL Communications Brownout and Blackout at UHF" (PDF). The Interplanetary Network Progress Report. 42–197: 1–22. Bibcode:2014IPNPR.197A...1M. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
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  25. ↑ O'Callaghan, Jonathan (17 January 2018). "China To Build The World's Largest Steerable Radio Telescope By 2023". IFLScience. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  26. ↑ Atkinson, Nancy (24 January 2018). "China Plans to Build the World's Largest Steerable Radio Telescope". Seeker. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  27. ↑ Mack, Eric (17 January 2018). "New biggest radio telescope to help detect alien signals". CNET. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  28. ↑ Li, Guoli; Wang, Ran (21 July 2020). "我国天基测控系统团队完成多项技术状态准备静待天问一号发射" (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  29. ↑ "Chang'e-1 – new mission to Moon lifts off". European Space Agency. 24 October 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  30. ↑ "China's second moon orbiter Chang'e-2 sends data from 1.7 mln km away". Xinhua News Agency. 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  31. ↑ Gray, Bill (25 August 2012). "Chang'e 2: The Full Story". The Planetary Society. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012.
  32. ↑ Jones, Andrew (23 July 2020). "Tianwen-1 launches for Mars, marking dawn of Chinese interplanetary exploration". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  33. ↑ Roulette, Joey (5 February 2021). "Three countries are due to reach Mars in the next two weeks". The Verge. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
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