【科技日报】轻舟货运飞船计划今年首飞

Core Viewpoint - The "Qingzhou" cargo spacecraft, a new generation of China's space "courier," was officially unveiled, with its first flight planned for this year and a fully operational version expected next year, enhancing the cargo transport capabilities for the Chinese space station [2]. Group 1: Technical Specifications - The "Qingzhou" cargo spacecraft is designed to be low-cost, highly reliable, adaptable, and intelligent, making it a crucial part of the cargo transport system for the Chinese space station [2]. - The spacecraft has a weight of approximately 5 tons, with an upward capacity exceeding 1.8 tons and a downward capacity of 2 tons [2]. - It features a loading volume of about 9 cubic meters and a cargo bay volume of 27 cubic meters, capable of carrying supplies for astronauts, scientific equipment, and various payloads [2]. Group 2: Design Features - The integrated single-cabin design of the "Qingzhou" enhances space utilization, reduces the spacecraft's dimensions, and allows compatibility with multiple rocket types for rapid launches [3]. - The spacecraft is equipped with an intelligent cargo transport management system that enables smart identification, localization, and management of cargo, improving efficiency in retrieving items [3]. Group 3: Versatility and Innovation - The "Qingzhou" can transport not only standard supplies but also various experimental payloads, supporting both manned and unmanned space science experiments, thus increasing the research and application value of the space station [3]. - The introduction of commercial space concepts and technologies, including a business model for cargo transport, aims to optimize the overall design and accelerate the application of new ideas, components, and materials in the aerospace sector [3].