Beijing: In a significant leap forward in hypersonic technology, China is reportedly forging ahead with the construction of a monumental railgun designed to launch its Tengyun spaceplane directly into orbit, as disclosed by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). This initiative reflects an intensifying global race, particularly against the United States, in the crucial arena of rapid satellite deployment.
The Chinese project entails the use of an electromagnetic railgun to propel spacecraft, comparable in size to a Boeing 737 and weighing 50 tonnes, into space. This groundbreaking endeavor aims to leverage a massive electromagnetic track to accelerate a hypersonic vehicle to Mach 1.6, enabling it to separate, ignite its engines, and ascend into near space at speeds seven times faster than sound. Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), the Tengyun spaceplane seeks to facilitate crewed space missions, cargo transport to orbit, satellite deployment, and potential operations like satellite docking or surveillance.
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The concept revolves around an electromagnetic launch track designed to catapult a spaceplane to speeds ranging from Mach 1.6 to Mach 5, following which the craft activates its onboard rockets to achieve orbital velocity. This innovative approach necessitates a vehicle capable of withstanding the rigors of railgun acceleration while ensuring safety for human occupants, deviating from NASA’s previous focus on unmanned payloads.
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation’s Flight Vehicle Technology Research Institute has erected a 2-kilometer test rail in Datong, Shanxi Province, reminiscent of Nevada’s Hyperloop test track. Encased within a vacuum tube, this track currently attains speeds of 620 mph and is anticipated to reach velocities five times greater in future iterations.
Meanwhile, in the United States, significant strides are being made in hypersonic technology. Stratolaunch’s Talon-A hypersonic vehicle recently completed its maiden powered flight, approaching speeds nearing Mach 5, with expectations of reaching Mach 6 in subsequent trials. This development signifies Stratolaunch’s shift towards hypersonic experimentation after initially focusing on space launches.
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These advancements come amid heightened global awareness of the strategic importance of satellite constellations, particularly underscored by recent geopolitical tensions such as the Ukraine conflict. Both China and the US are evidently investing in technologies enabling swift satellite deployment, crucial for communication, surveillance, and reconnaissance in conflict scenarios.
Notably, China may have gained an edge in tactically responsive space launch (TRSL) capabilities, essential for rapidly replenishing satellite constellations during conflicts, according to Sam Bresnick in Breaking Defense. This stands in contrast to the US emphasis on the development of larger, albeit less rapidly deployable, liquid-fuel rockets.
Despite China’s progress, it still lags behind in reusable rocket technology, an area where US companies like SpaceX have made significant advancements. Nevertheless, China’s CASIC aims to introduce reusable rockets by 2025 and 2026, signaling a pivotal step towards narrowing the technological gap.
The ongoing competition between the US and China in hypersonic technology and space launch capabilities underscores the burgeoning significance of space and satellite systems in modern military and strategic operations. These technological advancements hold the potential to shape future capabilities in global surveillance, communication, and defense.
