Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology Long March 11 launches out of Xichang for the first time.
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
China has conducted the first launch of its solid-fuelled quick-reaction Long March-11 launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Thursday. Carrying two new technology test satellites, Xinjishu Shiyan-G and Xinjishu Shiyan-H, the launch took place at 20:13 UTC.
The new technology test satellites were developed by the Shanghai Institute of Microsatellite Innovation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Xinjishu Shiyan-G), and the National University of Defence Technology (Xinjishu Shiyan-H).
As with the previous satellites, the new satellites will be used to carry out inter-satellite link networking and new ground observation technology tests in orbit.
Previous satellites in the series were launched on February 19, 2020. That mission orbited four satellites – named Xinjishu Shiyan-C to F, XJS-C and D – made by SAST, XJS-E by the Harbin Inst of Tech. and XJS-F by CAST’s DFH Satellite Co., Ltd. (DFHSat).
When the launch was first announced, it was noted the launcher would use a 2.5-meter-diameter fairing for the first time and that would use a highly integrated and highly intelligent information launch platform, with the rapid launch capability reaching a new level of development.
📌：Launch media thread!
🚀：Long March 11
🛰：CX-6-01Liftoff and launch success confirmed!
ℹ： https://t.co/mUT6H1LVEb pic.twitter.com/VmRahAQMb6
— LaunchStuff (@LaunchStuff) May 29, 2020
It is expected that 2020 will still see four launches using the Long March-11 rocket, the Long March-11H version, from a maritime launch platform.
This was the ninth launch of the Long March-11, including the CZ-11H version launched from a maritime launch platform.
The Long March-11 (Chang Zheng-11) is a small solid-fuelled quick-reaction launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) to provide an easy to operate quick-reaction launch vehicle, that can remain in storage for long period and to provide a reliable launch on short notice.
LM-11 is a four-stage solid-fuelled launch vehicle equipped with a reaction control system on the fourth stage.
The vehicle has a length of 20.8 meters, 2.0 meters in diameter and a lift-off mass of 58,000 kg. At launch it develops 120.000 kg/f, launching a 350 kg cargo into a 700 km SSO. The CZ-11 can use two types of fairing with 1.6 meters or 2.0 meters.
Chinese State Media photo of the fairing
LM-11’s first launch took place on September 25, 2015, when successfully orbited four satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The CZ-11 can also be launched from a maritime launch platform using the CZ-11H version.
The maritime launch platform is owned and run by an unnamed Chinese maritime engineering company. The platform is roughly 110 x 80 m in size, equipped with a 15.5 m high TEL.
On its first use, the platform was anchored at 34.90 deg. N, 121.19 deg. E.
The Xichang Satellite Launch Centre is situated in the Sichuan Province, south-western China and is the country’s launch site for geosynchronous orbital launches.
Equipped with two launch pads (LC2 and LC3), the center has a dedicated railway and highway lead directly to the launch site.
The Command and Control Centre is located seven kilometers south-west of the launch pad, providing flight and safety control during launch rehearsal and launch.
Other facilities on the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre are the Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, communications systems for launch command, telephone and data communications for users, and support equipment for meteorological monitoring and forecasting.
The first launch from Xichang took place at 12:25UTC on January 29, 1984, when the Chang Zheng-3 (Y1) was launched the Shiyan Weixing (14670 1984-008A) communications satellite into orbit.
The next launch from China will take place on May 31 when the Long March (Y51) rocket will be launched from Jiuquan’s LC43/94 orbiting the Gaofen-9 (02) remote sensing satellite.
