2019年12月27日，我國(guó)最強(qiáng)大的運(yùn)載火箭長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)從海南文昌航天發(fā)射場(chǎng)點(diǎn)火升空，開始了它最新一次的太空征程。

長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)遙三火箭上搭載有實(shí)踐二十號(hào)技術(shù)試驗(yàn)衛(wèi)星。這顆超過(guò)8噸重的衛(wèi)星是我國(guó)目前重量最大、技術(shù)最先進(jìn)的通信衛(wèi)星。約33分鐘后，這顆衛(wèi)星進(jìn)入了距地面約36000公里的預(yù)定軌道。

這次的成功發(fā)射為中國(guó)未來(lái)的一系列空間項(xiàng)目奠定了基礎(chǔ)，包括火星探測(cè)、月球采樣返回以及航天空間站建設(shè)等，中國(guó)國(guó)家航天局副局長(zhǎng)吳艷華在接受新華社采訪時(shí)如此表示。

據(jù)新華社報(bào)道，實(shí)踐二十號(hào)衛(wèi)星將對(duì)“東五平臺(tái)”（中國(guó)新一代大型衛(wèi)星平臺(tái)）的主要關(guān)鍵技術(shù)進(jìn)行驗(yàn)證，并提供通信和廣播服務(wù)。

2016年11月3日，長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)在文昌首飛成功。該火箭長(zhǎng)約57米，相當(dāng)于一棟20層大樓的高度。長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)比我國(guó)先前的運(yùn)載火箭都要大。其起飛重量約870噸，總推力超過(guò)1000噸。

長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)的運(yùn)載力與全球其他大型火箭不相上下。中國(guó)運(yùn)載火箭技術(shù)研究院院長(zhǎng)王小軍在接受新華社采訪時(shí)表示，長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)火箭在大幅提升我國(guó)自主進(jìn)入空間能力的同時(shí)，也為未來(lái)構(gòu)筑我國(guó)新一代運(yùn)載火箭系列型譜以及發(fā)展重型運(yùn)載火箭奠定了堅(jiān)實(shí)的基礎(chǔ)。

設(shè)計(jì)團(tuán)隊(duì)努力對(duì)該火箭進(jìn)行了減重優(yōu)化。比如，火箭結(jié)構(gòu)強(qiáng)度分析設(shè)計(jì)師李林生介紹，火箭某些部分的外殼厚度僅為幾毫米。“在2020年，我們計(jì)劃用長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)發(fā)射嫦娥五號(hào)月球探測(cè)器，以及發(fā)射火星探測(cè)器等，”王小軍表示，“執(zhí)行后續(xù)各項(xiàng)任務(wù)的火箭正在開展各項(xiàng)測(cè)試工作。”

繼2018年中國(guó)運(yùn)載火箭發(fā)射次數(shù)成為全球第一之后，2019年中國(guó)繼續(xù)保持這一勢(shì)頭，進(jìn)行了33次火箭入軌發(fā)射。

對(duì)于我國(guó)航天業(yè)而言，2020年也將是忙碌的一年。長(zhǎng)征五號(hào)B、長(zhǎng)征八號(hào)、快舟十一號(hào)、捷龍二號(hào)等多型新一代運(yùn)載火箭也將相繼迎來(lái)首飛。

China’s biggest and most powerful carrier rocket, the Long March 5, kicked off its latest space mission on Dec 27, 2019 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province.

The rocket, coded as Long March 5 Y3, carried the Shijian 20 technological experiment satellite. At more than eight tons, it is the heaviest and most advanced communications satellite yet built by China.

About 33 minutes later, the satellite entered its planned orbit, 36,000 kilometers above Earth.

The success of the flight will lay the foundation for a series of future Chinese space projects. These include exploring Mars, returning moon samples and constructing a space station, Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), told Xinhua.

The Shijian 20 satellite will test the key technologies of the DFH 5 platform, China’s new-generation large satellite platform, and offer communication and broadcasting service, according to Xinhua.

The Long March 5 made its maiden flight on Nov 3, 2016 from Wenchang.The rocket is about 57 meters long, equivalent to the height of a 20-story building. The Long March 5 is much larger than China’s previous carrier rockets. It has a takeoff weight of about 870 tons and a thrust of more than 1,000 tons.

The carrying capacity of the Long March 5 rocket equals that of other large-scale rockets in the global industry. Wang Xiaojun, president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told Xinhua this will greatly improve China’s ability to launch spacecraft and set up the future development of new-generation carrier rockets and heavy-lift launch vehicles.

The design team made efforts to decrease the weight of the rocket. For instance, the thickness of the rocket shell in some parts is only a few millimeters, according to Li Linsheng, a structural strength analysis designer.

“In 2020, we will use the Long March 5 to launch the Chang’e 5 probe to the moon and also send a rovertoward Mars,” Wang Xiaojun said. “Rockets to fulfill these missions are in the testing phases.”

China will continue to be the world’s most frequent user of carrier rockets after gaining the title in 2018, with 33 successful launches in 2019.

2020 is also expected to be a busy one for the nation’s space launch industry. A host of new types of rockets, such as the Long March 5B, Long March 8, Smart Dragon 2 and Kuaizhou 11, will make theirdebuts.