On the day of 12TH December 2024 Hours Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration , China, People’s Republic of China At 1517 Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time , the Chang Zheng -Long March 2D Yao 60 / YZ 3 Yao 5 China successfully launched the high-speed laser diamond constellation test system at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using the Long March 2D carrier rocket/Expedition 3 upper stage. The five satellites successfully entered the predetermined orbit and the launch mission was a complete success. This mission is the 551st flight of the Long March series of carrier rockets…..
[Long March 2D rocket/Expedition 3 upper stage successfully launches high-speed laser Diamond Constellation test system – China launches high-speed laser diamond constellation test system 】
At 15:17 on December 12, the Long March 2D carrier rocket/Expedition 3 upper stage lifted the high-speed laser Diamond Constellation test system and soared into the sky at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Subsequently, the upper stage sent the five satellites of the system into the predetermined orbit respectively, and the launch mission was a complete success. The Long March 2D rocket and the Expedition 3 upper stage were both developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The Long March 2D rocket has the ability to launch single and multiple satellites with different orbit requirements at the three major satellite launch centers in Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang, and its 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit carrying capacity is 1.3 tons. The Expedition 3 upper stage, known as the “space bus”, has the ability to autonomously deploy more than 20 times in rapid orbits, and is mainly used for multi-satellite deployment missions in different orbits.
This launch is the 551st launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets. The Long March 2D carrier rocket is a room-temperature liquid two-stage carrier rocket with a takeoff thrust of about 300 tons, corresponding to a capacity of 1.3 tons for a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous circular orbit. It has the ability to launch single and multiple satellites in accordance with different orbital requirements at the three major satellite launch centers in Jiuquan, Taiyuan, and Xichang. The Expedition 3 upper stage is a new type of space transportation tool that uses nitrogen tetroxide and methylhydrazine as propellants, is equipped with a 5kN main engine and an autonomous navigation and guidance system, and has the ability to autonomously maneuver and deploy more than 20 times in rapid orbits. It is mainly used for multi-satellite deployment missions in different orbits, and can directly send multiple satellites to predetermined space locations. It can also play an important role in rapid and flexible entry into space, space maneuvers, and space utilization.
On the 9th December 2024, Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time at CNSA –China National Space Administration– Wenchang Space Craft launch Center the The Long March 8A Yao-1 rocket was loaded and shipped, and will make its first flight early next year] On December 9, the Long March 8A Yao-1 carrier rocket was successfully loaded and headed for the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China. As China’s main rocket for medium and low orbits in the future, the Long March 8A rocket will carry out its first flight mission….
“The Long March 8A rocket is specially developed based on the Long March 8 rocket to meet the future medium and low orbit giant constellation network launch needs.” Song Zhengyu, chief designer of the Long March 8 model, introduced that “the Long March 8A rocket has the characteristics of advanced performance, low cost, high reliability and rapid launch . This maiden flight mission marks the official debut of the Long March 8A rocket, which will make important contributions to China’s low-orbit satellite networking and other tasks . It is of great significance and cannot be missed.”
“The Chang’e-8A rocket embodies the hard work and efforts of the entire team. It took 28 months to develop. So far, 44 large-scale ground tests have been completed and many key technologies have been mastered .” Xiao Yun, chief commander of the Chang’e-8 model, said, “The model team has the confidence and ability to complete this launch mission.”
Before the shipment, the General Design Department, Material Center, Beijing Institute of Space Launch Technology, Tianjin Aerospace Long March Rocket Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and other relevant units worked closely together to efficiently complete the loading of the rocket body and standard containers. At the same time, the Chang-8 Project Office also organized the status monitoring and safety protection of the rocket body to ensure that everything was ready.
Subsequently, all members of the Chang-8A Yao-1 rocket launch team will continue to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping, cooperate with each other and work closely together, treat every detail with a rigorous, cautious and practical attitude, implement the spirit of the ninth working conference of the group company, complete related work with high quality, concentrate their hearts and minds, and work together to ensure the successful completion of the first flight mission.
At morning 10th December 2024 Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration, the Long March 5B Yao-6 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China., On the morning of December 10, 2024 Beijing time, the “Long March 5B” Yao-6 carrier rocket and satellite assembly were vertically transferred from the vertical assembly and test plant to the launch tower on a mobile launch platform, and the launch mission preparations entered the final stage
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
The Long March 5B/Long March 5B (CZ-5B) is a large cryogenic liquid carrier rocket developed for China’s manned space station project, used to launch the main module of the space station. The rocket adopts a one-and-a-half-stage series-parallel configuration, consisting of a core stage and four boosters. It is China’s first one-and-a-half-stage configuration rocket.
Schematic diagram of Long March 5B
The Long March 5B rocket is 53.657 meters long, with a core stage diameter of 5 meters and a booster diameter of 3.35 meters. It is equipped with a large fairing with a diameter of 5.2 meters and a length of 20.5 meters. Its takeoff mass is about 849 tons, its takeoff thrust is about 1,078 tons, and its low-Earth orbit (LEO) capacity reaches 25 tons. In Asia, the Long March 5B is the rocket with the strongest low-Earth transport capacity in service.
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
The envelope diameter of the Long March 5B rocket fairing reaches 4.5 meters, and the volume exceeds 345 cubic meters. This is the fairing with the largest diameter, longest length, and largest envelope space in China’s current service, and one of the fairings with the largest envelope space in the world. With large carrying capacity and a “large cargo compartment”, the Long March 5B rocket can also be used with the Yuanzheng 2 upper stage to carry out large-scale multi-satellite launches, supporting China’s giant satellite constellation network. Once launched, the Long March 5B rocket will become the world’s most powerful carrier rocket for giant constellation network launches
It is expected that on the evening of December 15th to 16th, at the 101 launch site at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in China, the Long March 5B Yao-6 carrier rocket/Expedition 2 Yao-2 upper stage will carry out a large-scale multi-satellite launch mission, planning to send the satellites on board into low-Earth orbit.
The payload of this mission comes from the China Star Network Project, which is the China Star Network Low Orbit 01 Group Satellite. China Star Network (SatNet) is a giant satellite constellation in China, including low-orbit and high-orbit satellites, and plans to launch 12,992 satellites. The main body of the China Star Network Low Orbit 01 Group Satellite adopts a trapezoidal design, and its appearance is similar to that of the “One Network” constellation satellite. The constellation satellite using this design needs to be launched using a side-mounted launch based on a central load-bearing cylinder.
Long March 5B Yao-6 launch vehicle
This launch mission will be the fifth launch of the Long March 5B carrier rocket and the 13th launch of the Long March 5 series of rockets. At the same time, this launch will also be the first time that the rocket has carried out an unmanned space launch mission, which will provide a very scarce large carrying capacity for constellation networking.
中国的First Ocean Salinity Detection Satellite was successfully launched
At 1241 Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 14th December 2024 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration Successfully launched Chang Zheng – Long March 6 Carrier Rocket ignited and took off at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Shanxi Province..
[The third launch of the Long March 6-modified Qianfan rocket was a success!]
At 12:41 on December 5, the Long March 6-modified carrier rocket soared into the sky at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, and then sent the Qianfan polar orbit 03 satellite group into the predetermined orbit, and the launch mission was a complete success.
The Long March 6-modified rocket was developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is a new generation of non-toxic and pollution-free carrier rocket, and it is also China’s first solid-liquid bundled medium-sized carrier rocket. The carrying capacity of the 700-kilometer altitude sun-synchronous orbit is greater than 4.5 tons.
During this mission, the Long March 6-modified rocket encountered the coldest weather since its first flight. A few days before the launch, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center welcomed the first snow of this winter, and the lowest temperature once dropped to minus 26 degrees Celsius. In response to this, the test team worked closely with the launch site to add insulation measures to the tower and increase the air supply temperature of the air conditioner; by adopting the zero-second detachment technology of the rocket air conditioner connector, the rocket and the satellite in the fairing can “enjoy the warm air of the air conditioner” until the last moment before takeoff, providing better protection for the satellite environment. In addition, the rocket test team and the launch site carefully selected the relatively high temperature at noon to transfer and launch the rocket to ensure that all work was fool proof.
The Chang Zheng – Long March 6 modified rocket continued to use a stacked layout to implement the “one rocket, 18 satellites” launch mission. The launch of the Qianfan Polar Orbit 03 satellite group was provided by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Great Wall Company as the general contractor. The Qianfan Polar Orbit 03 satellite group includes 18 low-orbit broadband Internet satellites. It is the third batch of satellites of the first generation of Qianfan constellation satellites of Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. The first three batches of Qianfan satellites were successfully launched by the ChangZheng – Long March 6 modified Carrier rocket….
“Long March 6A” is a medium-sized solid-liquid bundled carrier rocket developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It adopts a two-and-a-half-stage series-parallel structure. The core stage and the core stage are connected in series, and the core stage is clustered with four boosters. The main power of the core stage is a liquid oxygen-kerosene engine, and the boosters use solid propellant engines.
The whole “Long March 6A” rocket is about 50 meters high (with a standard fairing of 4.2 meters in diameter), the core stage diameter is 3.35 meters, the booster diameter is 2 meters, and the diameter of the fairing is optional. The diameter is 3.35 meters, 3.8 meters, 4.2 meters and 5.2 meters. The takeoff mass is about 530 tons, the takeoff thrust is about 734 tons, and the arrow has a carrying capacity of about 5 tons in a 700-kilometer circular sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). At present, the arrow has further improved its carrying capacity by replacing the YF115B engine that can be restarted twice for the second stage.
During this mission, the Long March 6A rocket encountered the coldest weather since its maiden flight. A few days before the launch, the lowest temperature at the Taiyuan launch site dropped to minus 26 degrees Celsius. In response, the test team and the launch site added insulation measures to the tower and raised the air supply temperature of the air conditioner; by adopting the zero-second detachment technology of the rocket air conditioner connector during takeoff, better protection was provided for the rocket and the satellite in the fairing. In addition, the rocket test team and the launch site also chose the relatively high temperature at noon to transfer and launch the rocket.
On October 15, 2024, the Long March 6A Yao 20 rocket carried out the launch mission of the 18 satellites of the Thousand Sails polar orbit 02 group, 51 days after this launch mission. At present, the Long March 6A carrier rocket has entered the high-density launch phase, and the model continues to optimize the personnel configuration, ground equipment recovery, test operation procedures, etc., to further shorten the launch interval to meet the future intensive launch needs.
The “Qianfan” constellation is the G60 Global Multimedia Satellite (GMS) constellation, a giant low-orbit Internet satellite constellation launched and operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. The satellites are designed and manufactured by Shanghai Gesi Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. The constellation aims to provide space-based broadband Internet services covering the world. The first phase of the constellation plans to launch 108 satellites in 2024, and then launch 1,296 satellites before 2027, and ultimately plans to launch more than 12,000 satellites.
The “Qianfan” polar orbit 03 group is the first generation of satellites in the “Qianfan” constellation and the third batch of networking satellites. So far, the number of satellites launched into space in the “Qianfan” constellation has reached 54. This batch of satellites uses the stackable flat-panel satellite platform independently developed by Gess Aerospace. In December 2023, Gess Aerospace’s G60 satellite digital factory was officially put into production and the first batch of satellites were rolled off the production line. In the future, it will be able to achieve a production capacity of about 1 satellite per day, with an annual output of about 300 satellites. The “Qianfan” constellation is China’s first giant low-orbit constellation to enter large-scale continuous networking launches.
On the 3rd December 2024 schedule to launch CNSA _China National Space Administration -China – People’s Republic of China 1356 Hours Hong Kong –Beijing Time China- People’s Republic of China…. at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province at the At 13:56 Beijing time on December 3, 2024, at the No. 2 launch station of the Xichang Launch Center, the Long March 3B carrier rocket was launched, sending the Communication Technology Experimental Satellite No. 13 into the geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
[China’s 60th orbital space launch in 2024, Long March 3B welcomes its 100th launch]
The Communication Technology Experimental Satellite No. 13 is mainly used for satellite communications, radio and television, data transmission and other services, and carries out relevant technical tests and verifications. The
Long March 3B modified type 2 (CZ-3B/G2) has a total height of 56.326 meters, a maximum core stage diameter of 3.35 meters, a booster diameter of 2.25 meters, a takeoff mass of 458.97 tons, and a maximum capacity of 5.55 tons in the standard geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
From its first flight on February 15, 1996 to this launch, the Long March 3B rocket has carried out 100 launch missions in the past 28 years, with 98 successes (including 2 partial successes), and a success rate of 98%. So far, the Long March 3B rocket has become China’s first single-model rocket to complete 100 launch missions.
This mission is the 7th launch of the Long March 3B rocket in 2024, the 17th launch from the Xichang Launch Center, the 60th launch in China and the 230th orbital space launch in the world.
[This satellite badge of Third Aunt’s launch is very interesting]
At 13:56 on December 3, the Long March 3B carrier rocket ignited and took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, and then successfully sent the Communication Technology Experimental Satellite No. 13 into the predetermined orbit. So far, the Long March 3B carrier rocket has officially entered the “100 Launch Club”, becoming the first single-model Long March rocket in China to have exceeded 100 space launches.
Figure 1 is the satellite badge of Third Aunt’s launch mission. The Monkey King Sun Wukong and the golden hoop are very eye-catching. And this time Third Aunt launched during the day, which is interesting.
The satellite launched this time was developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is mainly used for satellite communications, radio and television, data transmission and other services, and carries out relevant technical tests and verifications.
