T-7 (rocket)
The T-7 was China's first
of the Shanghai Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering was the chief designer. Twenty-four T-7 rockets were launched between 1960 and 1965, and it was retired after a final launch in 1969.Specifications
The T-7 was designed to carry a payload of 25 kilograms (55 lb) to an altitude of 58 kilometres (36 mi). It had a length of 8 metres (26 ft), a launch weight of 1,138 kilograms (2,509 lb) and a diameter of 45 centimetres (18 in).[1][2]
History
In 1958, China started its satellite program and tasked the Shanghai Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with the development of rockets for satellite launches. Wang Xiji, a professor of the Department of Engineering Mechanics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, was appointed the chief engineer in charge of the rocket development, and Yang Nansheng was appointed deputy director of the institute in charge of the overall program including the launch site.[3]
The institute had very few experienced scientists. Other than Wang and Yang, there were only two visiting professors, Bian Yingui (卞荫贵) and Li Minhua.[3] The rest of the institute consisted of a few hundred university students with an average age of 21. Even Wang and Yang had little knowledge about rockets and had to learn on the fly.[3][4]
The development team worked with severe shortages of technical experience, funds, and equipment.
After a failed first launch in January 1960, the second launch on 19 February 1960 was successful. This small-scale test rocket, dubbed the T7-M, was China's first sounding rocket, and it reached an altitude of 8.0 kilometres (5.0 mi).[2] This success, achieved by a group of young engineers without the help of Soviet experts, impressed Mao Zedong.[1]
In March 1960, a launch site was built in
24 T-7 rockets were launched in total from 1960 to 1965, including nine carrying meteorological payloads. The rocket was retired after a final launch in 1969.[1]
Aftermath
The experience gained from developing the T-7 contributed greatly to the development of the
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "T-7". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
- ^ a b c "中国第一枚试验型探空火箭(T-7M型)发射". Sohu. 2009-06-17. Archived from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wang Xiji (August 1999). "箭击长空忆当年". Chinese Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
- ^ a b c ""两弹一星"功勋奖章获得者航天技术专家王希季". People's Daily Overseas Edition. 2001-04-04. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- ISBN 978-1-85233-566-3.