Tianlian
ManufacturerChina Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
Country of originChina
OperatorChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
ApplicationsTracking and Data Relay Satellite System
Specifications
Bus
  • DFH-3 - first generation
  • DFH-4 - second generation
RegimeGeostationary
Production
StatusIn service
Launched8
Operational8
Maiden launchTianlian I-01
25 April 2008
Last launchTianlian II-03
12 July 2022

Tianlian (Simplified Chinese: 天链, Traditional Chinese: 天鏈, English: Sky Link) also known as CTDRS, is a Chinese data relay communication satellite constellation. The constellation serves to relay data from ground stations to spacecraft and rockets, most significantly China's crewed spaceflight program. The system currently consists of seven satellites in two generations, with the first satellite being launched in 2008.

Mission

Tianlian is used to provide real-time communications between orbiting satellites and ground control stations. The Chinese tracking and data relay satellites were developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and it is similar to the American Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) in concept. The system is designed to support near-real-time communications between orbiting spacecraft and ground control, as well as complement the ground-based space tracking and telemetry stations and ships in tracking spacecraft.[1] This is necessary because ground stations can only maintain contact with a satellite while it is overhead. Positioning multiple satellites in geostationary orbit ensures that the ground station and satellite are both always in view of at least one relay satellite, allowing for constant communication between the ground station and target satellite. The system provides data relay services for crewed Shenzhou missions, from Shenzhou 7 onwards, the Tiangong space station, and interplanetary missions.[2][3][4] All satellites were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and operate in geostationary orbit.[5][6][7][8]

Tianlian I

Tianlian I consists of five satellites, all based on the DFH-3 satellite bus. The first satellite of the series, Tianlian I-01, was launched on the maiden flight of the Long March 3C launch vehicle on 25 April 2008.[9][10] With the launch of Tianlian I-03, a spacecraft could be tracked for 70% of its orbit, compared to only 15% without the constellation.[11]

Tianlian II

Tianlian II is the second generation of the constellation and currently consists of 3 satellites based on the DFH-4 satellite bus. The second generation system greatly improves data transmission rates and its multi-targeting ability. This in turn improves spacecraft operational safety and flexibility.[12][13]

Satellites

Satellite Simplified Chinese Name Launch (UTC)[14] Carrier Rocket[14] Launch Site[14] Bus Longitude[15] Status COSPAR ID SATCAT no.
First Generation
Tianlian I-01 天链一号01星 25 April 2008, 15:35 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2 DFH-3 77.0° East Active 2008-019A 32779
Tianlian I-02 天链一号02星 11 July 2011, 15:41 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2 DFH-3 176.72° East Active 2011-032A 37737
Tianlian I-03 天链一号03星 25 July 2012, 15:43 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2 DFH-3 16.86° East Active 2012-040A 38730
Tianlian I-04 天链一号04星 22 November 2016, 15:24 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2 DFH-3 76.95° East Active 2016-072A 41869
Tianlian I-05 天链一号05星 6 July 2021, 15:53 Long March 3C XSLC LC-2 DFH-3 106.2653° East Active 2021-063A 49011
Second Generation
Tianlian II-01 天链二号01星 31 March 2019, 15:51 Long March 3B XSLC LC-3 DFH-4 79.9° East Active 2019-017A 44076
Tianlian II-02 天链二号02星 13 December 2021, 16:09 Long March 3B XSLC LC-3 DFH-4 171.04° East Active 2021-124A 50005
Tianlian II-03 天链二号03星 12 July 2022, 16:30 Long March 3B XSLC LC-2 DFH-4 Active 2022-078A 53100

See also

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References

  1. ^ "Display: Tianlian 2-01 2019-017A". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 16 November 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "China's relay satellites facilitate clear, smooth space-ground communication". Xinhua News Agency. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. ^ Stephen Clark (25 April 2008). "Chinese data relay spacecraft put into orbit". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  4. ^ Li, Guoli; Wang, Ran (21 July 2020). "我国天基测控系统团队完成多项技术状态准备静待天问一号发射" (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  5. ^ David Todd (26 July 2012). "Chinese data relay satellite TianLian-1C is launched successfully on a Long March 3C". Flightglobal. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Display: Tianlian 1-02 2011-032A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ "Display: Tianlian 1-03 2012-040A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "Display: Tianlian 1-04 2016-072A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ Yan Liang (25 April 2008). "China blasts off first data relay satellite". Xinhua. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  10. ^ 我国成功发射首颗数据中继卫星(组图)
  11. ^ Xin Dingding (27 July 2012). "Satellite launch completes network". China Daily. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  12. ^ "中国成功发射"天链二号01星"-中新网". chinanews.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  13. ^ "China successfully launches second generation data relay satellite". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. ^ a b c McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Union of Concerned Scientists Satellite Database". UCS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
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