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China and Geophysics Research

Geophysics research on satellites has not been given many opportunities by PRC officials. The first notable experiments in the field were conducted by the Shijian-2 satellite, one of a trio of satellits launched on a single booster on 20 September 1981 along with Shijian-2A and Shijian-2B, when charged particle detectors were included in the multi-discipline scientific payload. The initial 235 km by 1,600 km orbit limited the data collection period to less than one year.

Chinese scientists did take advantage of the first test flight of the CZ-3A launch vehicle on 8 February 1994 to deploy the 400-kg Shijian-4 spacecraft. Placed into a GTO of 212 km by 36,092 km with an inclination of 28.6 degrees, Shijian-4 carried proton and electron detectors and a single event upset (SEW) monitor to return geophysical data. The spacecraft was spin-stabilized (10-20 rpm) and employed conventional, body-mounted silicon solar cells and NiCd batteries for the electrical power system (Reference 61).

Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) is devloping a small satellite bus for science and earth observation missions. The first two satellites based on this bus are Shijian-5 (SY-5) and Haiyang-1 (HY-1 or Ocean-1). Both satellites weigh 340kg and have two solar panels. With 11 science payloads onboard, SJ-5 will test 3 different kinds of attitude control methods: 3-axis, spin and gravity-gradient.

Shi Jian (Practice) 2

Shi Jian (Practice) 2-A

Shi Jian (Practice) 2-B

Shi Jian (Practice) 4

Shi Jian (Practice) 5

61. Zhu Yilin, "Small Satellites in China", Earth Space Review, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 20-24.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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