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Naga-1 small liquid-propellant carrier rocket

NAGA-1 is the small liquid-propellant carrier rocket of the First Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology. Naga is Sanskrit for the snake god of India. In the process of Chinese translation of Buddhist scriptures, it was translated as "Dragon". The total length is 29.219m, the take-off mass is 98.227 tones, the fairing is 5.279m long and the diameter is 3m. The first stage has a diameter of 3.35 meters and is equipped with a YF-100 liquid oxygen kerosene engine. The second stage has a diameter of 3 meters and is equipped with a YF-75 liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen engine.

In recent years, there have been sustained demands for small satellites, both within the telecommunication sector and for scientific missions and those related to Earth observation. Cost-effective operations, affordable and reliable space access are important parts of the space transportation system of small satellites. According to the market-oriented needs, new generation of small launch vehicles indicate the wide range of potential application for small satellites.

China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) small launch vehicle program efforts are underway to design, test, and develop technologies for small launch systems that mainly satisfy commercial needs at acceptable recurring costs. Significant progress has been made in undertaking the technical challenges of small launch systems and the accompanying management and operational approaches for achieving a low-cost program. The small launch vehicle program undertaken by CALT, including Naga-L (Liquid Based)NagaS(Solid based), address the specific technologies and business issues being applied and proposed related to these two types of small launch vehicles.

Naga-L, also called Naga-1, is a light carrier rocket under development by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). It is designed to compete on the international market for small-lift launch vehicles. The project was unveiled on 14 October 2015 by Dr. Haoliang Yang during the 66th International Astronautical Congress in Jerusalem. A first launch was planned for 2017. In addition to its domestic Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert, CALT was considering potential launches of Naga-L from spaceports in Sweden (Esrange), Indonesia (Pameungpeuk) and Tanzania.

A first launch of the two-stage Naga-L, from China, is planned in 2017, he said. Using components from the Long March rocket family, notably the YF-75 and YF-100 engines, Naga-L could deliver up to 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) to a 400-kilometer (250-mile) circular low-Earth orbit from Lapan and 900 kg (2,000 lb) to a 400-km Sun-synchronous orbit from Esrange or Jiuquan. Pricing would start at $10 million per mission.

The U.S. export control system is designed to prevent the spread of sensitive technologies to foreign actors that could threaten U.S. interests, while at the same time allowing U.S. companies to engage in legitimate commercial activity. Controlled technologies include defense articles (e.g., missiles), defense services (e.g., integration of a spacecraft onto a launcher), and dual use items (e.g., commercial spacecraft and components).

The International Trafc in Arms Regulations (ITAR) process has been developed under the jurisdiction of the Department of State and is administered by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). The ITAR process controls items, information, or activities that could be used for threatening foreign military purposes, whether actual products (defense articles) or assistance (defense services). These products and services are detailed in the ITAR under the United States Munitions List (USML). The Export Administration Regulations (EAR) process controls items and technologies considered to be “dual use”, meaning applicable to commercial or military use. These items are detailed in the EAR under the Commerce Control List (CCL). The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) administers the EAR process.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 authorized the removal of satellites and related items from the USML. As a result, the Department of State revised the ITAR and USML Category XV (Spacecraft and Related Articles) in rules that became effective in November 2014. The Commerce Department made parallel revisions to the EAR and CCL.9,10 The Category XV revision was one element of a broader Export Control Reform initiative begun in 2009 to place “higher walls” around a smaller set of“crown jewels” and unleash U.S. exports of products and services outside the walls.

But due to expoort control restrictions imposed by the United States which limit the distribution of US manufactured components with military applications, China can't import US produced satellites to its own territory, which prevents their Long March rockets from competing in the worldwide commercial launch services market. Naga-L would bypass these constraints by exporting the rockets instead of importing the satellites. "We can export this vehicle to get around the ITAR regulations," CALT's Haoliang Yang said 14 October 2015 during the 66th International Astronautical Congress. "It would only be for commercial launches."

Haoliang Yang may have been a good engineer, but he was a bad lawyer. The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. The MTCR seeks to limit the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by controlling exports of goods and technologies that could make a contribution to delivery systems (other than manned aircraft) for such weapons. Category I items include complete rocket and unmanned aerial vehicle systems (including ballistic missiles, space launch vehicles, sounding rockets, cruise missiles, target drones, and reconnaissance drones), capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg to a range of at least 300 km, their major complete subsystems (such as rocket stages, engines, guidance sets, and re-entry vehicles), and related software and technology, as well as specially designed production facilities for these items. Pursuant to the MTCR Guidelines, exports of Category I items are subject to an unconditional strong presumption of denial regardless of the purpose of the export and are licensed for export only on rare occasions.

MTCR controls do not distinguish between ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles (SLVs). Any rocket capable of putting a satellite into orbit is inherently capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction. Ballistic missiles and SLVs derive from nearly identical and virtually interchangeable technologies. The main difference between SLVs and offensive ballistic missiles is their payload and intended use. With the addition of a weapons payload and different guidance algorithms, SLVs can be used as ballistic missiles. Accordingly, all transfers of MTCR Category I items are subject to an unconditional strong presumption of denial regardless of purpose.

In 1992, the US gained China’s written pledge that it would observe the MTCR’s guidelines, largely attributed to the lifting of sanctions imposed on Chinese firms accused of transferring M-11 missile technology to Pakistan. The Naga scheme has not been heard from since 2015.