Chinese company builds world's largest shaker table to test spacecraft
Staff Reporter 2013-07-21 12:28
Student taking photos in front of a CZ-5 rocket model. (Photo/CNS)
The Beijing-based China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation declared that it has successfully developed the world's largest shaker table for the CZ-5 rocket heavy lift launch system, reports the state-run China News Service.
A shaker table is a device developed to move a spacecraft back and forth to provide the vibration that the vehicle will experience when launched via a rocket. The weight of China's new shaker table is estimated at 70 tonnes and also tests the craft by moving it up and down rapidly. The recently developed CZ-5 rocket, designed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, will be able to carry larger spacecraft than its predecessors and the shaker table will be able to provide accurate data to researchers at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
The current CZ-2 rocket system is able to carry a nine-tonne spacecraft. However, the CZ-5 is designed to carry up to 25-tonnes. Yang Hujun, deputy chief designer of the CZ-5, said that it is designed to meet world class standards.
The CZ-5 rocket will soon be transported from Tianjin in northern China to Hainan in the south for the launch, and the shaker table will also provide data regarding how hard the rocket is shaken on route.
Following the development of the CZ-5, Beijing plans to launch its own space station, according to China News Service. Yang said that sections of the space station will be launched one by one by the CZ-5 rocket, each weighing around 20 tonnes. This will eventually reduce the cost of China's space program between 20% and 30%.
