Chinese state-owned company unveils prototype of new space shuttle 'Haolong'



During

the China International Aviation and Aerospace Expo, held from November 12 to 17, 2024 local time, a model of the new space shuttle 'Haolong' designed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute, a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), was unveiled.

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In 2023, the China Manned Space Technology Office (CMSEO) solicited proposals for a low-cost cargo transportation system to transport cargo to the China Space Station (Tiangong), and on October 29, 2024, announced that it would select a cargo space shuttle from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS) and Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute.

The Haolon, designed in this way, has a total length of 32.8 feet (about 10 m), a width of 26.2 feet (about 8 m), and a maximum weight of 31,000 pounds (about 14,000 kg).




The conventional supply ship, Tianzhou , was designed to burn up upon re-entering the atmosphere after delivering its cargo to the space station, but Haolong can land on a runway after re-entering the atmosphere and return experimental equipment and other cargo to Earth.




Fan Yuanpeng, Haolong's chief designer, reported, 'With its gently angled nose and delta wing attached to the very rear of the aircraft, Haolong combines the characteristics of both a spacecraft and an aircraft. Haolong will be launched into Earth's orbit by a rocket, and after carrying out its resupply operations, it can land on an airport runway like an airplane.' 'Once Haolong returns to Earth, it will be inspected, maintained and repaired, and then be able to resume its cargo transport missions.'



'Haolong's high lift-to-drag ratio gives it great maneuverability in space,' Yuanpeng said. 'Its operation is also affordable, and it has the flexibility to transport cargo such as fresh food from Earth and exchange scientific research materials.'

At the time of writing, Haorong is in the engineering validation stage.

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