Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 23 Question: Successfully launched more than 40 times, the number of China’s Beidou navigation satellites in orbit exceeded 50!
Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Zhe
On November 23, the Long March 3B carrier rocket developed by the First Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and the upper stage of Expedition 1 successfully sent two Beidou-3 satellites into the predetermined orbit in the form of "one arrow and two stars". This launch is the 107th launch of the Long March 3A series of carrier rockets and the 11th launch of the series of carrier rockets this year.
Since the launch of the first Beidou-2 navigation test satellite in 2007, in the past 12 years, the Changsanjia series of rockets have sent 51 Beidou navigation satellites into the predetermined orbit with 37 successful launches. If the Beidou navigation test satellites launched earlier are included, the Changsanjia series of rockets have escorted 55 Beidou satellites into orbit 41 times.
"January Double Shot": Long March Rocket Family Big "Model Worker"
Following the launch of the Beidou-3 navigation satellite on November 5, on the morning of the 23rd, the Long March-3B rocket once again sent two Beidou-3 navigation satellites into the predetermined orbit, completing the "January double launch" at a high frequency of two launches in 18 days. Before that, the Chang Sanjia series of rockets had completed such a "feat" twice.
The Changsanjia series of rockets has become an "exclusive train" for launching Beidou navigation satellites due to its high orbit entry accuracy, many orbit choices, and strong adaptability. According to Jin Zhiqiang, the commander of the Long March 3A series of rockets, the Changsanjia rocket has high orbit entry accuracy and can be launched with either "one arrow single star" or "one arrow multiple stars"; it can be used for both standard geosynchronous transfer orbit launches and hyper-synchronous transfer orbit or low-inclination synchronous transfer orbit launches. The rocket can achieve lateral maneuvering orbit change, multiple spin-up, racemaking, orientation, etc., during flight, to meet the different orbit entry requirements of satellites.
As a "model worker" in the Long March rocket family, the Changsanjia series of rockets is also the only series of rockets in our country to enter the "100 launch club", maintaining a number of records: in 2015, the Changsanjia series of rockets set a high-density launch record of 7 launches in 109 days; in 2018, the Changsanjia series of rockets successfully completed 14 launches, setting a record for the number of annual launches; in April 2019, the Long March 3B Yao59 rocket sent the Beidou navigation satellite into the predetermined orbit, and the Changsanjia series of rockets became the first single series of rockets to be launched more than 100 times.
"Efficient Unity": There is a "trick" behind Lianzhan Lianjie
For a long time, the pace of success of the Changsanjia series of rockets has never slowed down. In the face of the situation that the high-intensity development, production and launch of models have become the norm, in order to make the management process more refined, and the experience summarized in the model work has been effectively solidified, transmitted and applied, the model has made great efforts in the construction of a refined process management system.
Aerospace model development, as a complex system engineering, requires not only the close cooperation of all participating units, but also the full cooperation and smooth connection of each link and each personnel to ensure that each work can be completed correctly, standardized and efficiently, and ensure that the launch is foolproof.
"Fine process management is a set of management theories and methods formed by the integration of fine management, process reengineering, knowledge management, etc. with aerospace practice. Its biggest advantage is that it provides a scientific and effective way to integrate rocket development work with all links and positions organically and efficiently," said Li Minghua, party secretary of the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
"In order to better optimize and improve the on-site workflow, the model has put forward clear requirements in terms of process combing, data analytics, and work’double thinking ‘. Use’one net’ to filter the on-site engineering process projects, use’magnifying glass’ to find hidden problems and hidden dangers, and use’playing movies’ to do a good job of anticipation and recall," said Chen Minkang, chief designer of the Long March 3A series of rockets.
"Gold Rocket": The other side of success is "sweat"
With its high reliability and high success rate, the Changsanjia series of rockets enjoy the reputation of "Gold Rocket". Behind the successful launch, a dynamic and combat-capable development team silently supports the growth of this gold rocket.
In order to meet the construction needs of the Beidou project, the development team of the Changsanjia series of rockets has carried out a lot of innovative work, breaking through dozens of key technologies such as multi-orbital plane design technology, take-off roll orientation, two-way high-altitude wind compensation, and cold helium booster system redundancy, etc. The flight reliability has been improved to the level of 0.94.
The Long March 3B rocket carrying out this mission has been continuously improved in terms of reliability and safety: the on-arrow measurement system has added protective devices and protective means to improve the reliability of data collection; the ground equipment has been upgraded and optimized to further strengthen the safety and improve the safety of use.
In recent years, the high-density launch of the Changsanjia series of rockets has gradually become the norm. Although the process optimization has greatly shortened the preparation time for rocket launches, the development team still spends a long time on business trips at the launch site. The average annual business trip time of the team’s key members exceeds 200 days. They often jokingly call returning to Beijing "business trips", and the launch base has become their "second home".
Zhu Pingping, who was the commander of the conventional power of the rocket, suddenly felt unwell during a routine propellant filling process. In order not to affect the progress of the work, he endured the pain and stayed in the command post, always paying attention to the filling amount data on the display screen. After the filling was completed, he found that the filling amount was lower than the required value, and his nerves suddenly tightened. He quickly interpreted and analyzed the data, recalculated the filling amount, and accurately completed a series of crisis handling actions. Only a few drops of painful sweat that accidentally slipped from his forehead told the ordeal he was going through.
After intense discussion, everyone agreed that the result of the injection met the needs of the mission and did not affect the follow-up work. Later, the rocket was launched on time and accurately entered orbit, but Zhu Pingping was admitted to the hospital due to acute intestinal obstruction.
"We not only pursue the completion of the result, but also the completion of the process," said Jin Zhiqiang, the commander of the Long March 3A series of rockets. It is this persistence that supports the team to move towards higher goals.