Tianlian I
Tianlian I (Simplified Chinese: 天链一号, Traditional Chinese: 天鏈一號, English: Sky Chain), also known as Tian Lian 1, TL-1, and CTDRS-1 is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications satellite series. Based on the DFH-3 satellite bus, it will provide communication coverage for crewed Shenzhou missions, from Shenzhou 7 onwards.[1] Functionally, it is similar to the United States Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | China |
| Operator | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
| Applications | Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System |
| Specifications | |
| Bus | DFH-3 |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Production | |
| Status | In service |
| Launched | 4 |
| Operational | 4 |
| Maiden launch | Tianlian I-01 25 April 2008 |
| Last launch | Tianlian I-04 22 November 2016 |
The first satellite of the series, Tianlian I-01, was launched on the maiden flight of the Long March 3C launch vehicle, at 15:35 UTC on 25 April 2008, from LC-2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.[2] Tianlian I-01 is able to cover around half of the spacecraft's trajectory, compared to around 12% which had been covered using tracking stations and a fleet of ships. Tianlian I-02 was launched on 11 July 2011, Tianlian I-03 on 25 July 2012 and Tianlian I-04 on 22 November 2016.[3] The satellites are in geostationary orbit.[4]
Tianlian-I satellites
- Tianlian I-01
- Tianlian I-02
- Tianlian I-03
- Tianlian I-04
Tianlian I-01
| Names | Tian Lian 1 TL-1 CTDRS-1 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Tracking and Data Relay Satellite |
| Operator | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
| COSPAR ID | 2008-019A |
| SATCAT no. | 32779 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Tianlian I |
| Bus | DFH-3 |
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 25 April 2008, 15:35:11 UTC [5] |
| Rocket | Long March 3C |
| Launch site | Xichang, LC-2 |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit [6] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 77.0° East |
Tianlian I-01 (Simplified Chinese: 天链一号01星, Traditional Chinese: 天鏈一號01星) is the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) launched by People's Republic of China, and the first satellite of Tianlian I TDRS series.[7] The satellite has multiple roles and especially serves China's crewed spaceflight. Its first task could be for the Shenzhou 7 communication.
The satellite was launched successfully by the Long March 3C rocket in Xichang Satellite Launch Center on 25 April 2008, at 15:35:11 UTC (23:35 local time). It was the 105th launch of the Long March rocket family. The rocket had 3 stages, 2 roll boosters, a 55 metre height; and was liquid-fueled. Its initial weight was ~343 tons.
Its history includes:
- 26 April 2008, 00:00 UTC, the Xi'an Satellite Control Center received the feedback signal, which showed the satellite accurately entered its predesigned orbit.
- 30 April 2008, 08:25 UTC, the satellite was announced to be successfully set at 77.0° East over the equator.[8]
Tianlian I-02
| Names | Tian Lian 2 TL-2 CTDRS-2 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Tracking and Data Relay Satellite |
| Operator | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
| COSPAR ID | 2011-032A |
| SATCAT no. | 37737 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Tianlian I |
| Bus | DFH-3 |
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 11 July 2011, 15:41:04 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 3C |
| Launch site | Xichang, LC-2 |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
Tianlian I-02, a Chinese data relay satellite, was launched from Xichang on 11 July 2011 at 15:41 UTC by a Long March 3C launch vehicle. The satellite is the second launch of the Tianlian communication system. Tianlian I-02 spacecraft join the Tianlian I-01 data relay satellite launched in April 2008 in monitoring flights of China's crewed Shenzhou capsule and China's future space station. The satellite is placed in a geostationary orbit over the equator.[9]
Tianlian I-03
| Names | Tian Lian 3 TL-3 CTDRS-3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Tracking and Data Relay Satellite |
| Operator | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
| COSPAR ID | 2012-040A |
| SATCAT no. | 38730 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Tianlian I |
| Bus | DFH-3 |
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 25 July 2012, 15:43:04 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 3C |
| Launch site | Xichang, LC-2 |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
The Tianlian I-03 satellite is a geostationary relay satellite based on the DFH-3 bus (three-axis-stabilized telecommunications satellite platform). It is used to support real-time communications between orbiting satellites and ground control stations. This system has replaced the network of ground-based space tracking and telemetry stations and space tracking ships.[10]
Tianlian I-04
| Names | Tian Lian 4 TL-4 CTDRS-4 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Tracking and Data Relay Satellite |
| Operator | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
| COSPAR ID | 2016-072A |
| SATCAT no. | 41869 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Tianlian I |
| Bus | DFH-3 |
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 22 November 2016, 15:24:04 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 3C |
| Launch site | Xichang, LC-2 |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
The new satellite is the fourth in China's Tianlian I series, joining data relay stations launched in 2008, 2011, and 2012. The spacecraft has conduct maneuvers in the fellow weeks to circularize its geostationary orbit over the equator, where its velocity matches the rate of Earth's rotation. That allows the satellite to stay over the same part of Earth at all times.[11]
See also
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References
- Stephen Clark (25 April 2008). "Chinese data relay spacecraft put into orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
- Yan Liang (25 April 2008). "China blasts off first data relay satellite". Xinhua. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
- Xin Dingding (27 July 2012). "Satellite launch completes network". China Daily. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- David Todd (26 July 2012). "Chinese data relay satellite TianLian-1C is launched successfully on a Long March 3C". Flightglobal. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- "CTDRS Satellite details 2008-019A NORAD 32779". N2YO. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
- 我国成功发射首颗数据中继卫星(组图)
- China sets up first space station for spacecraft data relay_English_Xinhua Archived 2008-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
- "Display: Tianlian 1-02 2011-032A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. - "Display: Tianlian 1-03 2012-040A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- "Display: Tianlian 1-04 2016-072A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.