Chongqing - The Long March 2F Y-17 Carrier Rocket, which carried the Shenzhou-17 crew into space, recently blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, sending three astronauts into space.

As of now, the Long March-2F rocket has completed 12 crewed launch missions, which has maintained a 100% success rate. The credit for these flawless achievements cannot be underestimated, with Southwest Aluminum playing a pivotal role.

Exclusive 100% supply of aircraft skin and forging rings

According to Li Yong, secretary of the party committee and chairman of Southwest Aluminum (Group) Co., LTD., for this launch mission, Southwest Aluminum provided aluminum alloy materials for the spacecraft and rocket, including forgings, sheets, profiles, and tubes in more than ten different categories and specifications. 

Li Yong, the secretary of the party committee and chairman of Southwest Aluminum (Group) Co., LTD. (Photo / Southwest Aluminum (Group) Co., LTD.)

These materials were used in critical parts such as the spacecraft's connecting frame, intermediate frame, end frame, surface structure, and the rocket's transition ring, adapter frame, and storage tank, primarily serving support, connection, and skin functions, with aluminum materials accounting for over 60%. 

Notably, the aircraft skin and forging rings for the spacecraft and rocket propulsion chamber were 100% exclusively supplied by Southwest Aluminum.

"Forging rings are vital structural components for rockets and spacecraft, providing strength and protection during launch," Li emphasized.

In 1989, Southwest Aluminum developed a 3.5-meter diameter monolithic aluminum alloy forging ring, often called the "First Ring in Asia." The rocket and spacecraft used this specific size of forging ring for this mission. 

Following developing a 5-meter class aluminum alloy monolithic forging ring in 2007,  the company achieved a world record-breaking 10-meter class super-large monolithic aluminum alloy forging ring in 2016, significantly enhancing China's hardware capabilities for deep space exploration. 

Mass production of key aluminum alloy materials for aerospace

The rocket propulsion chamber and spacecraft skin for this launch featured aluminum alloy sheet materials from Southwest Aluminum. Due to the need for weight reduction, the spacecraft's skin had a lower density than the rocket's, using 2.4-meter ultra-wide aluminum alloy thin sheets crafted with extreme precision.

The Southwest Aluminum forging production line is forging aluminum alloy ring components. (Photo/Southwest Aluminum (Group) Co., LTD.)

"To effectively address challenges such as space temperature variations, resistance, and friction, key aluminum alloy materials for spacecraft and rockets must exhibit high metallurgical quality and performance," Li added.

Li said that in recent years, Southwest Aluminum has effectively overcome challenging obstacles, reaching research outcomes related to casting, hot processing, heat treatment, and more. This has allowed the mass production of key aluminum alloy materials for aerospace applications.

Simultaneously, the National Aluminum Industry Metrology and Testing Center constructed by Southwest Aluminum has accelerated its development. More than 30 pieces of equipment for 17 supporting facilities have recently been implemented, enhancing online inspection capabilities and ensuring that flawed products do not go unnoticed.

"Southwest Aluminum will actively engage in the research of critical and strategic basic materials, continually advance the integration of Industry-University-Research in the innovation chain," Li added. "We continuously enhance the capacity to support the production of aerospace materials for the nation and contribute more key aluminum materials for developing national strategic initiatives.