Tianlian

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Tianlian
ManufacturerChina Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
Country of originChina
OperatorChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
ApplicationsTracking and Data Relay Satellite System
Specifications
Bus
  • DFH-3 - first generation
  • DFH-4 - second generation
RegimeGeostationary
Production
StatusIn service
Launched8
Operational8
Maiden launch
Tianlian I-01
25 April 2008
Last launchTianlian II-03
12 July 2022

Tianlian (

data relay communication satellite constellation. The constellation serves to relay data from ground stations to spacecraft and rockets, most significantly China's crewed spaceflight program
. The system currently consists of seven satellites in two generations, with the first satellite being launched in 2008.

Mission

Tianlian is used to provide real-time communications between orbiting satellites and ground control stations. The Chinese tracking and data relay satellites were developed by the

Shenzhou missions, from Shenzhou 7 onwards, the Tiangong space station, and interplanetary missions.[2][3][4] All satellites were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and operate in geostationary orbit.[5][6][7][8]

Tianlian I

Tianlian I consists of five satellites, all based on the DFH-3 satellite bus. The first satellite of the series, Tianlian I-01, was launched on the maiden flight of the Long March 3C launch vehicle on 25 April 2008.[9][10] With the launch of Tianlian I-03, a spacecraft could be tracked for 70% of its orbit, compared to only 15% without the constellation.[11]

Tianlian II

Tianlian II is the second generation of the constellation and currently consists of 3 satellites based on the DFH-4 satellite bus. The second generation system greatly improves data transmission rates and its multi-targeting ability. This in turn improves spacecraft operational safety and flexibility.[12][13]

Satellites

Satellite Simplified Chinese Name Launch (UTC)[14] Carrier Rocket[14] Launch Site[14] Bus Longitude[15] Status COSPAR ID SATCAT no.
First Generation
Tianlian I-01 天链一号01星 25 April 2008, 15:35 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2
DFH-3
 77.0° East Active 2008-019A 32779
Tianlian I-02 天链一号02星 11 July 2011, 15:41 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2
DFH-3
 176.72° East Active 2011-032A 37737
Tianlian I-03 天链一号03星 25 July 2012, 15:43 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2
DFH-3
 16.86° East Active 2012-040A 38730
Tianlian I-04 天链一号04星 22 November 2016, 15:24 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2 DFH-3 76.95° East Active 2016-072A 41869
Tianlian I-05 天链一号05星 6 July 2021, 15:53 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2 DFH-3 106.2653° East Active 2021-063A 49011
Second Generation
Tianlian II-01 天链二号01星 31 March 2019, 15:51 Long March 3B XSLC LC-3 DFH-4 79.9° East Active 2019-017A 44076
Tianlian II-02 天链二号02星 13 December 2021, 16:09 Long March 3B XSLC LC-3 DFH-4 171.04° East Active 2021-124A 50005
Tianlian II-03 天链二号03星 12 July 2022, 16:30 Long March 3B XSLC LC-2 DFH-4 Active 2022-078A 53100

See also

Wikinews has related news:

References

  1. ^ "Display: Tianlian 2-01 2019-017A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 16 November 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "China's relay satellites facilitate clear, smooth space-ground communication". Xinhua News Agency. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. ^ Stephen Clark (25 April 2008). "Chinese data relay spacecraft put into orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  4. ^ 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. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  5. ^ David Todd (26 July 2012). "Chinese data relay satellite TianLian-1C is launched successfully on a Long March 3C". Flightglobal. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Display: Tianlian 1-02 2011-032A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ "Display: Tianlian 1-03 2012-040A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "Display: Tianlian 1-04 2016-072A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ Yan Liang (25 April 2008). "China blasts off first data relay satellite". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  10. ^ 我国成功发射首颗数据中继卫星(组图)
  11. ^ Xin Dingding (27 July 2012). "Satellite launch completes network". China Daily. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  12. ^ "中国成功发射"天链二号01星"-中新网". chinanews.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  13. ^ "China successfully launches second generation data relay satellite". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Union of Concerned Scientists Satellite Database". UCS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tianlian&oldid=1133082629"