我国研制可重复使用航天运载器 预计2020年首飞

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) at China Aerospace and Technology Corp is collaborating with major domestic institutions to co-develop reusable launch vehicles, scheduled to undertake maiden flights by around 2020.

中国航天科技集团公司旗下的中国运载火箭技术研究院，正联手国内主要机构共同研制可重复使用运载器，并计划于2020年左右进行首飞。

The goal is to reduce the cost of carrying payloads to just one-tenth of existing expendable launch vehicles, significantly shortening preparation time for a launch and complete trips from ground to space and back, just like jetliners.

其目标是能将有效载荷的运输成本降至现有一次性运载火箭的1/10，大幅缩短发射准备时间，能像喷气式客机一样完成天地往返的行程。

According to Chen Hongbo, a senior researcher at CALT, reusable launch vehicles are able to carry men or payloads to their designated orbits and return to Earth relying solely on inbuilt power systems, and can be used repeatedly for launch missions.

该研究院高级研究员陈洪波称，可重复使用运载器仅靠自身动力系统，便可携带人员或有效载荷进入预定轨道并返回地球，还可重复用于发射任务。

Reusable launch vehicles under research will have the characteristics of both spacecraft and aircraft. China is making improvements on current rocket engines to make them reusable.

正在研究的可重复使用运载器将兼具航天器和飞机的特点。我国正在对现有的火箭引擎进行改进，以使其可重复使用。

Chen said the new launch vehicle is designed mainly to reach orbits of about 300-500 km above Earth's surface, and can meet the need for "fast, reliable and inexpensive" launches in future, including carrying personnel for China's space station, as well as materials.

陈洪波表示，这种新型运载器主要是为到达距地约300-500公里的轨道设计的，可满足未来“快速、可靠、廉价”的发射需求，包括为我国空间站运输人员、物资。

In addition, it can meet the needs for launching payloads for both military and civil use, and facilitate the development of new civil industries, such as space tourism.

此外，该运载器也能满足军民两用的有效载荷发射需求，还能促进太空旅游等新型民用产业的发展。