On May 17-18, 2001, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) representatives participated in the 3rd World Summit on the Space Transportation Industry in Paris. Vice President Liu Zhixiong gave a speech at the summit, introducing strategies to respond to changes in the market and the current status of the Long March launch services.
Rapid developments in communications satellite applications are helping to expand the world commercial space transportation market. Launch services market surveys by different organizations in 2000 indicate that an average of 25-30 satellites will be launched each year from 2001 to 2010; most of them being GEO communications satellites, and satellite launch mass will increase to over 6,000 kg for GTO missions. As a provider in the launch services market, China Great Wall is ready to face these challenges with its varied range of customer launch services.
Adapting to Market Changes in the Early 21st Century
In the early 21st century, the communications satellite market will be fiercely competitive, and great changes will occur in the criteria for selecting a launch vehicle. Currently, reliability, performance, capability and scheduling flexibility are always the top priorities underpinning the customer’s decision-making process, followed by cost considerations.
We must adapt our marketing strategies in the light of these market changes, to include:
- Enhancing reliability design and reducing the different types of launch vehicle. The LM-3 launch vehicle has now been phased out, and we will focus on upgrading and developing heavy-lift launch vehicles to satisfy the needs of the large GEO satellite market.
- An 18-month lead time for Long March launch vehicles has been achieved to match satellite delivery time in the market. Launch-site launch vehicle preparation will be shortened to a 30-day period during which the necessary tests will be completed. Namely, unit tests and subsystem tests which used to be performed at the launch site technical center will be completed prior to shipment to the site. System tests will be performed in the technical center upon the arrival of the launch vehicle at the launch site, followed by a routine testing procedure at the launch complex. This new test procedure will shorten the vehicle preparation time at the launch site without compromising quality. We have achieved six launch missions a year, demonstrating our mission scheduling capabilities and flexibility.
We will continue to offer Long March launch services at competitive prices. Our 23 consecutive successful launches in more than four years, including 8 LM-3A and LM-3B mission successes, will improve the premium rate for Long March services; we will also make our contractual terms and conditions more competitive according to customer requirements. All of these improvements will lower the cost of the entire program.
More than 40 years’ experience in the development of China's aerospace technology and over a decade of commercial practice have led to the development of a series of Long March launch vehicle models. We have development a wealth of experience by launching 24 U.S. and European commercial satellites, for customers including Boeing, Loral, Lockheed Martin, Motorola and Alcatel. These launch missions have demonstrated that Long March launch services are capable of meeting all of the needs of customers and satellite manufacturers.
Meeting the Challenges of the Large GEO Satellite Market
The LM-3B is the most powerful Long March GTO mission launch vehicle. Its flight environment data as measured from the launcher and satellite interfaces comply with the acceptance test environment conditions specified in the ICD and User's Manual.
- Three LM-3A launches were successfully completed in 2000. In terms of their development history, the LM-3A and 3B form part of the same series because the LM-3B's critical systems are identical to those of the LM-3A – take the IMU, program command subsystem and engines for example. The LM-3A and 3B have so far accumulated 10 successful flights, which has built up our confidence with a view to future launch missions. Worthy of special note are our two recent LM-3B launch contract awards, from Astrium and APT respectively. The contracts require the launch of two communications satellites in 2002 and 2003 based on Astrium's EuroStar 2000+ and SS/L's FS1300 satellite platforms. These contract awards are a clear indication of the recognition of the LM-3B by our customers.
- To meet the challenges of the large GEO satellite market, a 4.2 meter LM-3B nose cone fairing is under development. A fairing separation test was performed successfully last April, and a final static test is scheduled in October. The new fairing will be available on the market in 2002.
- An enclosure for the fairing on the pad and processing building is available to customers for LM-3B launch vehicles, so as to improve satellite environment conditions and facilitate launch operations at the launch site.
Future Development Plans
As a launch services provider on the world market, China Great Wall has always provided its Long March launch services in conformity with the rules of market supply and demand, based on a commercial model. In view of the future development of the large GEO satellite market as well as new customer requirements and concepts, we are working out a long-term development plan to upgrade the reliability and launch capacity of our Long March launch vehicles. As part of these future programs, we have recently renovated our Xichang launch site customer team hotel facilities, refurbished the processing facilities, constructed a new highway system for easier satellite transportation and to incorporate a multi-band RF link system, and improved the site’s launch safety and communications system.
Conclusion
We are confident of the quality launch services which we offer to our customers because we have been in business in the space sector for over 40 years, and achieved 65 launches including 24 launch missions for international customers, as well as 23 consecutive successful flights. We will continue to work with our customers by providing competitive contractual terms and conditions; to offer a complete and "gap-less" risk management plan and financing support from the insurance and financial communities; to enhance launch vehicle reliability and mission scheduling capability and flexibility, as well as further improve our quality assurance and launch safety system and services.