A Chinese Long March 2D launched the Gaofen-9 (03) satellite on Wednesday. The launch took place at 7:19 UTC from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center’s LC43/94 complex.
Gaofen-9 is an optical remote-sensing satellite that will work together with other satellites from the series to form an Earth observation system.
Gaofen (“High Resolution”) is a series of civilian Earth observation satellites developed and launched for the state-sponsored program China High-definition Earth Observation System (CHEOS).
China also orbited two small satellites on this launch.
Pixing-3A is a small satellite developed by Zhejiang University. It mainly conducts orbital tests on pico-satellite and nano-satellite technologies, such as multi-mode measurement and control transponders and onboard integrated electronic systems.
The HEDE-5 satellite was developed by Beijing Hede Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. The new satellite was developed to carry out global ship navigation status collection, global flight status collection and global Internet of Things information collection on orbit.
The Long March 2D (Chang Zheng-2D) launch vehicle is a two-stage rocket developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. It is mainly used to launch a variety of low earth orbit satellites.
The CZ-2D can launch 1,300 kg of cargo into a 645 km SSO.
ℹ： https://t.co/dOubIfrwT0 pic.twitter.com/5XWEcMirOs
— LaunchStuff (@LaunchStuff) June 17, 2020
It shares the same first and second stages as the Chang Zheng-4, although the second stage sports an improved equipment bay.
At launch, the Long March 2D develops 2961.6kN of engine thrust, with the first stage powering the YF-21C engine that consumes 183,200 kg of N2O4 / UDMH. The rocket has a lift-off mass of 232,250 kg.
The second stage has a launch mass of 39,550 kg, with its YF-24C cluster engine running off 35,550 kg of N2O4 / UDMH.
The Long March 2D can use two types of fairings depending on the cargo. Type A fairing has a 2.90 meters diameter and the Type B fairing with a diameter of 3.35 meters.
The Long March 2D conducted its maiden flight on August 9, 1992 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center – orbiting the Fanhui Shei Weixing FSW-2-1 (22072 1992-051A) recoverable satellite.
The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in Ejin-Banner – a county in Alashan League of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region – was the first Chinese satellite launch center and is also known as the Shuang Cheng Tze launch center.
The site includes a Technical Centre, two Launch Complexes, Mission Command and Control Centre, Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, tracking and communication systems, gas supply systems, weather forecast systems, and logistic support systems.
Jiuquan was originally used to launch scientific and recoverable satellites into medium or low earth orbits at high inclinations. All Chinese crewed missions are launched from this site.
The LC-43 launch complex, also known as the South Launch Site (SLS) is equipped with two launch pads: 91 and 94. Launch Pad 91 is used for the manned program for the launch of the Long March-2F launch vehicle (Shenzhou and Tiangong). Launch Pad 94 is used for uncrewed orbital launches by the Long March-2C, Long March-2D and Long March-4C launch vehicles.
Other launch zones at the launch site are used for launching the Kuaizhou, the CZ-11 Chang Zheng-11 and commercial launch vehicles using solid rocket motors.
The first orbital launch took place on April 24, 1970 when the CZ-1 Chang Zheng-1 rocket launched the first Chinese satellite, the Dongfanghong-1 (04382 1970-034A).