TRANSMITTAL OF IMAGERY ANALYSIS MEMORANDUM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87T00758R000207270001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 13, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

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NOFORN- Not Re leasable to Foreign Nationals
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REL. . .- This Information has been Authorized for
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13 August 1987
MEMORANDUM FOR: Recipients of Imagery Analysis Memorandum
Tours of Five Space-Associated Manufacturing Facilities,
China , 1 Aug 87.
Chief, East Asia Division, IEG/NPIC
SUBJECT : Transmittal of Imagery Analysis Memorandum
1. This IAN, disseminated using the normal distribution procedures for
NPIC hard copy reports, discusses tours of five space-associated facilities in
China. The tours provide a unique opportunity to visit facilities,
It also provided us the opportunity to observe
a new space launch vehicle in the final stages of assembly. (S)
2. We hope that you will find this information useful. Any comments or
queries may be directed to
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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
13 August 1987
Tours of Five Space-Associated
Manufacturing Facilities, China (S)
Summary
This report is based on the Pacific Basin
International Symposium on Advances in Space Science
Technology and its Applications the author attended in
Beijing, China, from 7 to 10 June 1987. Between 12 and
18 June, a post-symposium tour was conducted to five
space-associated manufacturing facilities that are
members of the China Academy of Science and Technology.
Visits to these factories reinforced the overall
symposium theme that China is a reliable manufacturer
and launcher of space vehicles and scientific
satellites. The theme of each factory tour clearly was
that China can and has achieved entry into the
environment of space technology through its own
research, development, and testing programs and its use
of domestically-produced component parts. (U)
Intelligence, previously derived exclusively from
imagery analysis, was confirmed during question and
answer sessions during the symposium and the factory
All applicable satellite and small format imagery
available as of was used in the
preparation of this report. (S/WN)
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Several new information/intelligence items were
acquired during the symposium and the factory tours.
Also, a better understanding of the
operating procedures for satellite
manufacturing/testing and orbital tracking/monitoring
was achieved. Specific information concerning the
configuration of future medium- and heavy-lift space-
launch vehicles and their propulsion systems was also
gained. (S/WN)
Discussion
A discussion of each facility visited includes the name as
recognized by NPIC, the name provided by symposium literature in
parentheses, and information gained from the visit. (S/WN)
Beijing Guided Missile Plant Nanyuan
(Beijing Capital Machinery Factory)
The Beijing Guided Missile Plant Nanyuan (Figure 1) is one of
13 factories under the direction of the Beijing Wanyuan
Industrial Corporation (BWYIC). BWYIC and the Nanyuan plant are
collocated in Wanyuan, a southern Beijing suburb. This plant was
visited on 9 June 1987, 1330-1500 local time. (S/WN)
This tour began with a videotape presentation of the BWYIC
departmental organization and its associated products. A
general question-and-answer session followed; key information
acquired included the following items: (U)
? The LM-2D is a new medium-lift space-launch vehicle, which
will be larger than the currently operational LM-3 and
smaller than a new heavy-lift launch vehicle in the design
stages, the LM-4L. (U)
? The LM-2D will consist of an elongated version of the first
and second stage of the currently operational LM-2C. (U)
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TCS-3 286 4/ 87
? The LM-4L, a new heavy-lift space-launch vehicle being
developed, will also use the elongated first stage of the
LM-2C but with four additional strap-on booster rockets.
The first-stage engine cluster will be the same as the
cluster used on the LM-2C. Liquid fuel strap-on boosters
will have a single engine of the same design used for the
booster cluster. The second stage will be the same as is
used on the LM-2C. (U)
? LM-4L specifications include a booster diameter of 3.35
meters, a strap-on booster diameter of 1.65 meters, a
payload flaring diameter of 4.0 meters. The vehicle has an
estimated flight date of 1990. (U)
? The tour group visited one final assembly hall and observed
two LM-2C launch vehicles. One vehicle had a LM-3 third-
stage engineering model placed forward of the second stage
to simulate the LM-3 launch vehicle. The tour group was
informed that one of the two LM-2C launch vehicles would
soon be transshipped to one of China's space-launch sites
for an autumn launch. NPIC has been reporting prelaunch
indications at Shuangchengzi SSM Research and Development
? When asked about the method used for airframe transshipment
to the launch site, we were told that specialized missile-
and satellite-handling railcars were used for
transshipment, and the launch vehicle was shipped to the
launch site approximately three months prior to a launch.
? Officials said that the Nanyuan plant has the capability to
produce five LM-2C first- and second-stage airframes per
year.
Questions concerning e
production rate of LM-3 third stages were not answered.
(S/WN)
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Weinan Probable SSM-Space Tracking Facility
Man Satellite Control Center
The tour group met with Zhang Feng Xiang, chief engineer of
the Weinan facility, on 13 June 1987, approximately 1100-1300
local time (Figure 2). Information gained from the tour included
the following items: (U)
? The chief engineer said that a new facility that will
replace the Weinan facility is under construction in the
town of Xian. (U)
? The Weinan facilty functions as a satellite monitoring site
for all of China's satellites. Monitoring of two
communications satellites (STW-land STW-2) occurs, but not
on a daily or continuous basis. (U)
? All computer and tracking equipment shown to the group was
manufactured by the Chinese and seemed very old. None of
the equipment, including the air conditioning, was on or
operating during the visit. When asked about the lack of
air conditioning and why the computers were not on, the
response was that equipment operates only when needed. (U)
? The director said that China has an agreement with France
to build a new tracking center that will have the
capability to receive S-band telemetry. This new tracking
station is to be constructed near Nanning, China, and will
be jointly operated by the Chinese and the French. (U)
Xian Institute of Radio Technolo
Same Name)
The Xian Institute of Radio Technology (Figure 3) was visited
on 16 June 1987, approximately 1400-1500 local time.
Information gained from the tour included the following items:
(U)
? This facility manufactures communications hardware and
onboard electronics hardware for all of China's satellites
in addition to researching, designing, and manufacturing
satellite communication antennas. The antennas used on the
two currently operational communication satellites (STW-1
and STW-2) were designed and manufactured at this facility.
(U)
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? All computer equipment observed was either from Hewlett
Packard, IBM, or a West German firm. Unlike the Weinan
tracking facility, all computer rooms were constantly air
conditioned and very clean and dust free. (U)
? The computer center has the capability to process computer
compatible tapes (CCTs) generated from their LANDSAT
receiver station in Beijing in addition to performing
research and testing on new antenna systems. (U)
? Testing of satellite antennas has been conducted on the
roof of a multi-story building. A new antenna test range
was under construction and completion is anticipated in the
near future. (U)
? In addition to manufacturing electronic component parts for
satellite communication systems, a civilian television
receive-only antenna is produced at this institute. (U)
? This institute has a centrally located dish antenna that
can receive what was said to be LANDSAT signals.
? Research and testing of antennas is conducted in an
anechoic test chamber measuring eight meters high by eight
meters wide by 32 meters deep.
Shanghai Missile and Space Systems Plant Minhang
(X in Zhoung Hua Machinery Plant)
The Shanghai Missile and Space Systems Plant Minhang (Figure
4), located in the southern suburbs of Shanghai, at Minhang, was
visited on 16 June 1987, approximately 1400-1500 local time.
Information gained from the plant tour included the following
items: (S/WN)
? This plant employs approximately 2,000 workers, of which
300 are technicians directly involved in the
manufacturing/assembly of the LM space-launch vehicle. The
rest of the workers concentrate on producing refrigerators
for civilian sale. (U)
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? Since 1977 Minhang has coordinated with BWYIC to
manufacture the first and second stages of the LM-3
airframe. The factory director was very proud that all
research, design, and manufacturing of the first and second
stage of the LM-3 is conducted and carried out at this
plant. The three LM-3's flown to date were produced at
this facility. When asked where the third stage for the
LM-3 is made, the answer was that the manufacturing plant
is in Beijing at Wanyuan.
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? There were two missile airframes in the assembly hail at
this plant:
--The first airframe consisted of a first- and second-
stage LM-2/3 with a payload shroud positioned at the
forward end of the second stage. The configuration of
the shroud was compatible with the external shape of the
low earth orbit (LEO) meteorological satellites observed
at Shanghai Satellite Engineering Institute. Although
the stages were painted white, I do not recall any
markings on the airframe. (U)
--The second airframe consisted of an elongated first
stage, a second stage, a third stage, and a payload
shroud of similar shape to the LEO meteorological
satellite. The first stage was two steel panels longer
than the first stage of the LM-2/3. The tour group was
not permitted around the aft end of the booster, so I
could not confirm if there were four booster engines
like that used on the first stage of the LM-2/3. The
second stage was the same length as the LM-2/3 second
stage and had two engines. A transition collar was on
the forward end of the second stage. The third stage was
approximately half the length of the second stage and
had the general appearance of the third stage of the LM-
3. The stage was wide at the aft end to match the
diameter of the transition stage, and then it narrowed
at the forward end to a smaller diameter. The stage
propulsion consisted of four hypergolic engines and
several venier engines. (U)
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? Airframe components for the assembly of two additional
second stages for a LM-2/3 were in the assembly hall. A
third-stage LM-3, covered with dust, was at the far end of
the hall, suggesting that it was an engineering or
simulator model. (U)
? Vehicles parked outside the entrance to the assembly hall
included one prime mover with leveling jacks, one van-
bodied electronics truck, and one cab-behind-engine (CBE)
cargo truck with a canvas-covered vent/port centered over
? A new type of missile-associated ground-support vehicle was
parked next to a subassembly building in the plant complex.
The four-axle, cab-over-engine truck had a low profile van
body unlike any previously identified.
? A general question-and-answer session revealed the
following items:
-Five first- and second-stage airframes can be produced
annually at the plant. The civilian product produced at
this plant is refrigrators. (U)
-Missile airframes are shipped via specialized railcars
directly to the Xichang launch site. (U)
Top Secret
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Shanghai Satellite Test and Production Facility Minhan
(Shanghai Satellite Engineering Institute)
The Shanghai Satellite Test and Production Facility Minhang
(Figure 5), located on the same road and a short distance from
the Shanghai Missile and Space Systems Plant Minhang, was
visited on 16 June 1987, approximately 1500-1600 local time.
Information gained from the facility tour included the following
items: (S/WN)
? Until a few years ago, this facility produced several types
of satellites for China. The plant now produces two types
of meteorological satellites, one for use in LEO and the
second for use in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). (U)
-The tour group was told that the LEO satellite would be
launched in 1988, and the GEO satellite launch was
planned for the 1990-91 timeframe. The launch site for
the GEO satellite was confirmed as the Xichang space-
launch site in south central China, and no launch site
for the LEO satellite was discussed. NPIC refers to the
Xichang space-launch site as Songlin SSM Research and
Development Space Launch Sitel I. NPIC
? Satellite test facilities within the compound include a
vibration test stand, centrifuge test, vacuum test chamber,
and a sun and heat simulator. (U)
? The vacuum test chamber was only as large as the current
GEO satellite. Sun and heat simulation tests were also
conducted in the same multi-story building. Sun and heat
tests were and are conducted to simulate a five-year space
operation, although we were told the satellites fly for
only a year. (U)
? In the satellite assembly building, three completed LEO
satellites and one GEO satellite in the assembly process,
were observed. (U)
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Attachments
Figure 1. Beijin Guided Missile Plant Nanyuan, 3 Jun 87 (TOP
SECRET
Figure 2. Weinan Probable SSM-Space Tracking Facility, 17 May 87
(TOP SECRET
Figure 3. Xian Institute of Radio Technology, 15 Apr 87 (TOP
SECRET
Figure 4. Shanghai Missile and Space Systems Plant Minhang, 3
May 87 (TOP SECRET
Inset Shows Cab-Behind-Engine Cargo Truck
(UNCLASSIFIED)
Figure 5. Shanghai Satellite Test and Production Facility
Minhang, 3 May 87 (TOP SECRET
Insets Show Models of LEO and GEO Meteorological
Satellites (UNCLASSIFIED)
If additional copies or viewgraphs of the figures are desired
please call the NPIC Customer Information and Support Center on
Top Secret
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