|
Carrier Services
China’s space coup with first Western satellite launch order in 10 years
New rocket launch facility at Hainan Island
by Ek Heng, Asia-Pacific correspondent
A recent decision to build a new rocket launch site in Hainan island and securing a deal to launch Europe-based Eutelsat Communications’ 5-ton satellite have put the spotlight on China’s space ambitions.
These developments testify to China’s success in pursuing space technology under its own steam following a U.S. policy in 1990 barring it from launching satellites with U.S. components. The impact has left China to seek customers from second-tier operators from Asia, Africa and South America.
The Eutelsat order is the first satellite launch deal from a major western country in more than a decade for China marking a high point in its space exploration and satellite-building program. As a supplier of commercial satellite products and services to the United States, Eutelsat’s order with China is seen as controversial by industry observers and officials on both sides have been cagey about confirming the order.
Made without any U.S. components, the Eutelsat satellite is scheduled for launch by China’s Long March rocket in 2010. Cost competitiveness is a good reason for China’s ability to secure the satellite launch order which could be as much as 40 percent less than the price of its western counterparts. The last launch of a western satellite on a Chinese rocket was in 1998 by ChinaStar for a Lockheed Martin-made satellite.
Another launch prospect that could go the way of China is a series of satellites by France’s Thales Group and Italy’s Finmeccanica which are built without U.S. content. While European manufacturers of such satellites can get around the U.S. rule and look at cheaper launch alternatives, the impact on the consequences of their commercial and military contracts will depend on the sensitivity and reaction from the the new U.S. government whose review on relationships with various countries, including China, are on the cards.
Wenchang center set for launch
As for China’s new rocket launch base at Wenchang city, Hainan, it has been reported the facility will have functions to transfer, test and launch new generation rocket-carriers and space vehicles such as geo-synchronous satellites, polar-orbiting satellites and space stations. It will have facilities to provide support for logistics, meteorological, telecoms and technological services.
It is understood that the earth’s surface moves faster at the equator and Hainan is the southernmost province, just 19 degrees north of the equator. The extra spin helps boost the rocket-carriers allowing for heavier payloads. The Wenchang space launch center is scheduled for completion in 2013 will be a shot in the arm for China’s space program. However, no other details of the project such as the construction date and budget were available.
Since the center debuted 1956 when the government made public its space program, the first rocket was launched by China four years later. It was followed by its first satellite launch in 1970 and the country’s first astronaut went into orbit in 2003.
Having launched 15 commercial satellites since 2002, the country has established a track record, the latest being a communication for satellite for Venezuela last October. China has in the pipeline 15 more commercial satellites to be sent into orbit this year.
According to industry analysts, there have been six commercial satellites built without U.S. components since 2002. Seen against 25 western-built commercial satellites that are sold globally each year, it may have limited impact on European, American and Russian competitors.
|
