China's Space Program News Thread
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Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
I assumed YG 30 meant Yaogang 30 a Spy NOSS satellite?
89 days after the failure of the 2nd flight of its heavy-lift CZ-5, China successfully launched the three YG-30-01 satellites today in Xicheng
China launches Yaogan-30 via Long March 2D
May 15, 2016 by Rui C. Barbosa
The Chinese have launched the Yaogan-30 remote sensing satellite via a Long March (Chang Zheng) 2D (Y27) rocket on Sunday. The launch – from the from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center – took place at 02:43 UTC from the 603 Launch Platform at the LC43 Launch Complex.
Yaogan-30 Launch:
As is usual for the Chinese media, this spacecraft is once again classed as a new remote sensing bird that will be used for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring.
As was the case in previous launches of the Yaogan Weixing series, analysts believe this class of satellites is used for military purposes.
This may explain why no one was advised in advance of the mission payload for the Long March 2D, with many commentators assuming the launch would be for the Gaofen-10 satellite.
As was the case with the former Soviet Union (and in a smaller scale with Russia) with the ‘Cosmos’ designation, the ‘Yaogan’ designation is used to hide the true military nature of the vehicles orbited.
Yaogan-30 is probably an electro-optical observation satellite based on the military Jianbing-6 series.
Similar satellites were the Yaogan-2 (31490 2007-019A) that was launched on 25 May, 2007; the Yaogan-4 (33446 2008-061A) launched on December 1, 2008; the Yaogan-7 (36110 2009-069A), launched on December 9, 2009; the Yaogan-11 (37165 2010-047A) launched on September 22, 2010; and the Yaogan-24 launched on November 20, 2014 (40310 2014-072A).
All the satellites were launched by Long March-2D rockets from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The Jianbing-6 electro-optical satellites carry high resolution optical sensors and reportedly have a resolution of between one to three meters and are placed in orbits that provide favorable illumination for the imaging missions.
According to USSTRATCOM parameters, the spacecraft – which will have the the codename 01-74 – was logged at 626 by 655 km at 98.07 degrees (epoch 04:13UTC). This is understood to be similar to the orbit of Yaogan-2 (626 by 654 km at 98.02 degrees).
This was the 227th mission for the Long March rocket family. China launched the first “Yaogan” series satellite, Yaogan-1, in 2006.
Launch vehicle and launch site:
The Chang Zheng-2D launch vehicle is a two-stage rocket developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. With storable propellants is mainly used to launch a variety of low earth orbit satellites.
The development of CZ-2D was started in February 1990. From 2002, to meet the demand of SSO satellites, the payload fairing of 3350mm in diameter and attitude control engine for the second stage have been successfully developed; and the discharge of remaining propellant and de-orbit of the second stage have been realized. This launcher is mainly used for launching LEO and SSO satellites. It is characterized by high reliability, wide application and mature technology.
The CZ-2D can launch a 1,300 kg cargo in a 645 km SSO. The rocket is 41.056m long and the first, second stages and payload fairing are all 3.35m in diameter.
Its first stage is the same of the CZ-4 Chang Zheng-4. The second stage is based on CZ-4 second stage with an improved equipment bay. Lift-off mass is 232,250 kg, total length 41,056 meters, diameter 3.35 meters and fairing length 6.983 meters. At launch, it develops 2961.6kN engine thrust.
The first stage has a 27.910 meter length with a 3.35 meter diameter, consuming 183,200 kg of N2O4 / UDMH (launch mass of the first stage is 192,700 kg). Equipped with a YF-21C engine capable of a ground thrust of 2,961.6 kN and a ground specific impulse of 2,550 m/s. Burn time is 170 seconds.
The second stage has a 10.9 meter length with a 3.35 meter diameter, launch mass of 39,550 kg and consuming 45,550 kg of N2O4 / UDMH. Equipped with a YF-24C cluster engine with a main engine vacuum thrust of 742.04 kN and a vernier engine with a vacuum thrust of 47.1 kN (specific impulses of 2,942 m/s and 2,834 m/s, respectively).
The CZ-2D can use two types of fairings depending on the cargo. Type A fairing has a 2.90 meters diameter (total launch vehicle length is 37.728 meters) and Type B fairing with a diameter of 3.35 meters – total launch vehicle length is 41.056 meters.
The first launch of the CZ-2D was on August 9th, 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. It is also the place from where all the Chinese manned missions are launched.
The LC-43 launch complex, also known by South Launch Site (SLS) is equipped with two launch pads: 921 and 603. Launch pad 921 is used for the manned program for the launch of the Chang Zheng-2F launch vehicle (Shenzhou and Tiangong). The 603 launch pad is used for unmanned orbital launches by the Chang Zheng-2C, Chang Zheng-2D and Chang Zheng-4C launch vehicles.
Other launch zones at the launch site are used for launching the Kuaizhou and the CZ-11 Chang Zheng-11 solid propellant launch vehicles.
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).
89 days after the failure of the 2nd flight of its heavy-lift CZ-5, China successfully launched the three YG-30-01 satellites today in Xicheng
China launches Yaogan-30 via Long March 2D
May 15, 2016 by Rui C. Barbosa
The Chinese have launched the Yaogan-30 remote sensing satellite via a Long March (Chang Zheng) 2D (Y27) rocket on Sunday. The launch – from the from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center – took place at 02:43 UTC from the 603 Launch Platform at the LC43 Launch Complex.
Yaogan-30 Launch:
As is usual for the Chinese media, this spacecraft is once again classed as a new remote sensing bird that will be used for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring.
As was the case in previous launches of the Yaogan Weixing series, analysts believe this class of satellites is used for military purposes.
This may explain why no one was advised in advance of the mission payload for the Long March 2D, with many commentators assuming the launch would be for the Gaofen-10 satellite.
Yaogan-30 is probably an electro-optical observation satellite based on the military Jianbing-6 series.
Similar satellites were the Yaogan-2 (31490 2007-019A) that was launched on 25 May, 2007; the Yaogan-4 (33446 2008-061A) launched on December 1, 2008; the Yaogan-7 (36110 2009-069A), launched on December 9, 2009; the Yaogan-11 (37165 2010-047A) launched on September 22, 2010; and the Yaogan-24 launched on November 20, 2014 (40310 2014-072A).
All the satellites were launched by Long March-2D rockets from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The Jianbing-6 electro-optical satellites carry high resolution optical sensors and reportedly have a resolution of between one to three meters and are placed in orbits that provide favorable illumination for the imaging missions.
According to USSTRATCOM parameters, the spacecraft – which will have the the codename 01-74 – was logged at 626 by 655 km at 98.07 degrees (epoch 04:13UTC). This is understood to be similar to the orbit of Yaogan-2 (626 by 654 km at 98.02 degrees).
This was the 227th mission for the Long March rocket family. China launched the first “Yaogan” series satellite, Yaogan-1, in 2006.
Launch vehicle and launch site:
The Chang Zheng-2D launch vehicle is a two-stage rocket developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. With storable propellants is mainly used to launch a variety of low earth orbit satellites.
The development of CZ-2D was started in February 1990. From 2002, to meet the demand of SSO satellites, the payload fairing of 3350mm in diameter and attitude control engine for the second stage have been successfully developed; and the discharge of remaining propellant and de-orbit of the second stage have been realized. This launcher is mainly used for launching LEO and SSO satellites. It is characterized by high reliability, wide application and mature technology.
Its first stage is the same of the CZ-4 Chang Zheng-4. The second stage is based on CZ-4 second stage with an improved equipment bay. Lift-off mass is 232,250 kg, total length 41,056 meters, diameter 3.35 meters and fairing length 6.983 meters. At launch, it develops 2961.6kN engine thrust.
The first stage has a 27.910 meter length with a 3.35 meter diameter, consuming 183,200 kg of N2O4 / UDMH (launch mass of the first stage is 192,700 kg). Equipped with a YF-21C engine capable of a ground thrust of 2,961.6 kN and a ground specific impulse of 2,550 m/s. Burn time is 170 seconds.
The second stage has a 10.9 meter length with a 3.35 meter diameter, launch mass of 39,550 kg and consuming 45,550 kg of N2O4 / UDMH. Equipped with a YF-24C cluster engine with a main engine vacuum thrust of 742.04 kN and a vernier engine with a vacuum thrust of 47.1 kN (specific impulses of 2,942 m/s and 2,834 m/s, respectively).
The CZ-2D can use two types of fairings depending on the cargo. Type A fairing has a 2.90 meters diameter (total launch vehicle length is 37.728 meters) and Type B fairing with a diameter of 3.35 meters – total launch vehicle length is 41.056 meters.
The first launch of the CZ-2D was on August 9th, 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.
The LC-43 launch complex, also known by South Launch Site (SLS) is equipped with two launch pads: 921 and 603. Launch pad 921 is used for the manned program for the launch of the Chang Zheng-2F launch vehicle (Shenzhou and Tiangong). The 603 launch pad is used for unmanned orbital launches by the Chang Zheng-2C, Chang Zheng-2D and Chang Zheng-4C launch vehicles.
Other launch zones at the launch site are used for launching the Kuaizhou and the CZ-11 Chang Zheng-11 solid propellant launch vehicles.
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).
Last edited:
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Here is the video
antiterror13
Brigadier
The title says 3 sats, but I didn't find any word "3 sats" in the article?
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Some of the Yaogan series consist of 3 satellite their job is to find and track ship at sea(Ahem carrier) They are what you call NOSS satellite
(Naval observatory surveillance system) they use ship radio signal to locate and track the ship. So you have optical, SAR(synthetic aperture radar) and radio transmission to track ship at sea
Here is reference
One of the interesting sights in the night sky are the Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) satellite formations, each having two or three satellites in close proximity to one another. Normally these satellites are relatively dim to the unaided eye, but on occasion they brighten sufficiently to be easily seen in a dark sky.
NOSS satellites locate and track ships at sea by detecting their radio transmissions and analyzing them using the TDOA (time-difference-of-arrival) technique.
Here is the Yaogan series with triplet satellite
China's NOSS-Like Triplets
In early 2010, China launched a NOSS-like triplet, into very nearly the identical orbital inclination and altitude of U.S. NOSS. Follow-up launches occured in 2012, 2013 and twice in 2014. None of the U.S. NOSS triplets remain in formation, so the five sets of Chinese triplets are the only intact examples in orbit today. They are readily visible in binoculars, and occasionally to the unaided eye. Like the U.S. NOSS, they sometimes brighten to rival the brightest stars and planets.
Common Catalog International
Name Number Designation Comments
------------ ------- ------------- --------
Yaogan 9A 36413 2010-009A Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 9B 36414 2010-009B Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 9C 36415 2010-009C Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 16A 39011 2012-066A Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 16B 39012 2012-066B Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 16C 39013 2012-066C Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 17A 39239 2013-046A Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 17B 39240 2013-046B Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 17C 39241 2013-046C Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 20A 40109 2014-047A Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 20B 40110 2014-047B Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 20C 40111 2014-047C Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 25A 40338 2014-080A Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 25B 40339 2014-080B Chinese NOSS-like satellite
Yaogan 25C 40340 2014-080C Chinese NOSS-like satellite
antiterror13
Brigadier
Thanks @Hendrik_2000 . I learnt something new (again) today 
Very interesting that "None of the U.S. NOSS triplets remain in formation" ... why is that ?
Very interesting that "None of the U.S. NOSS triplets remain in formation" ... why is that ?
The report by Rui Barbosa refers to a previous launch in May 2016. It is confusing because that launch placed Yaogan 30 in orbit, whereas the three satellites placed in orbit today (29 Sep) are referred to as Yaogan 30 01 ()I assumed YG 30 meant Yaogang 30 a Spy NOSS satellite?
89 days after the failure of the 2nd flight of its heavy-lift CZ-5, China successfully launched the three YG-30-01 satellites today in Xicheng
China launches Yaogan-30 via Long March 2D
May 15, 2016 by Rui C. Barbosa
The Chinese have launched the Yaogan-30 remote sensing satellite via a Long March (Chang Zheng) 2D (Y27) rocket on Sunday. The launch – from the from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center – took place at 02:43 UTC from the 603 Launch Platform at the LC43 Launch Complex.
Yaogan-30 Launch:
As is usual for the Chinese media, this spacecraft is once again classed as a new remote sensing bird that will be used for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring.
As was the case in previous launches of the Yaogan Weixing series, analysts believe this class of satellites is used for military purposes.
This may explain why no one was advised in advance of the mission payload for the Long March 2D, with many commentators assuming the launch would be for the Gaofen-10 satellite.
As was the case with the former Soviet Union (and in a smaller scale with Russia) with the ‘Cosmos’ designation, the ‘Yaogan’ designation is used to hide the true military nature of the vehicles orbited.
Yaogan-30 is probably an electro-optical observation satellite based on the military Jianbing-6 series.
Similar satellites were the Yaogan-2 (31490 2007-019A) that was launched on 25 May, 2007; the Yaogan-4 (33446 2008-061A) launched on December 1, 2008; the Yaogan-7 (36110 2009-069A), launched on December 9, 2009; the Yaogan-11 (37165 2010-047A) launched on September 22, 2010; and the Yaogan-24 launched on November 20, 2014 (40310 2014-072A).
All the satellites were launched by Long March-2D rockets from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The Jianbing-6 electro-optical satellites carry high resolution optical sensors and reportedly have a resolution of between one to three meters and are placed in orbits that provide favorable illumination for the imaging missions.
According to USSTRATCOM parameters, the spacecraft – which will have the the codename 01-74 – was logged at 626 by 655 km at 98.07 degrees (epoch 04:13UTC). This is understood to be similar to the orbit of Yaogan-2 (626 by 654 km at 98.02 degrees).
This was the 227th mission for the Long March rocket family. China launched the first “Yaogan” series satellite, Yaogan-1, in 2006.
Launch vehicle and launch site:
The Chang Zheng-2D launch vehicle is a two-stage rocket developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. With storable propellants is mainly used to launch a variety of low earth orbit satellites.
The development of CZ-2D was started in February 1990. From 2002, to meet the demand of SSO satellites, the payload fairing of 3350mm in diameter and attitude control engine for the second stage have been successfully developed; and the discharge of remaining propellant and de-orbit of the second stage have been realized. This launcher is mainly used for launching LEO and SSO satellites. It is characterized by high reliability, wide application and mature technology.
The CZ-2D can launch a 1,300 kg cargo in a 645 km SSO. The rocket is 41.056m long and the first, second stages and payload fairing are all 3.35m in diameter.
Its first stage is the same of the CZ-4 Chang Zheng-4. The second stage is based on CZ-4 second stage with an improved equipment bay. Lift-off mass is 232,250 kg, total length 41,056 meters, diameter 3.35 meters and fairing length 6.983 meters. At launch, it develops 2961.6kN engine thrust.
The first stage has a 27.910 meter length with a 3.35 meter diameter, consuming 183,200 kg of N2O4 / UDMH (launch mass of the first stage is 192,700 kg). Equipped with a YF-21C engine capable of a ground thrust of 2,961.6 kN and a ground specific impulse of 2,550 m/s. Burn time is 170 seconds.
The second stage has a 10.9 meter length with a 3.35 meter diameter, launch mass of 39,550 kg and consuming 45,550 kg of N2O4 / UDMH. Equipped with a YF-24C cluster engine with a main engine vacuum thrust of 742.04 kN and a vernier engine with a vacuum thrust of 47.1 kN (specific impulses of 2,942 m/s and 2,834 m/s, respectively).
The CZ-2D can use two types of fairings depending on the cargo. Type A fairing has a 2.90 meters diameter (total launch vehicle length is 37.728 meters) and Type B fairing with a diameter of 3.35 meters – total launch vehicle length is 41.056 meters.
The first launch of the CZ-2D was on August 9th, 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. It is also the place from where all the Chinese manned missions are launched.
The LC-43 launch complex, also known by South Launch Site (SLS) is equipped with two launch pads: 921 and 603. Launch pad 921 is used for the manned program for the launch of the Chang Zheng-2F launch vehicle (Shenzhou and Tiangong). The 603 launch pad is used for unmanned orbital launches by the Chang Zheng-2C, Chang Zheng-2D and Chang Zheng-4C launch vehicles.
Other launch zones at the launch site are used for launching the Kuaizhou and the CZ-11 Chang Zheng-11 solid propellant launch vehicles.
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).
Hendrik_2000
Lieutenant General
Here is Henri K take on the latest satellite launch. A Maritime surveillance system is getting improved
Many called it the "Come-back" mission not to be missed after a series of failure of the Chinese aerospace sector - first that put the ChinaSat-9Acommunication satellite into an orbit and the new heavy - lift CZ-5 , resulting in the loss of the 7,500 kg SJ-18 geostationary satellite - why all the pressure was on the shoulders of the CZ-2C rocket teams, this Friday, September 29, during the launch mission to Xichang to place a mysterious charge in LEO orbit, later named the YG-30 Group 01 satellites, a triplet of small satellites a priori belonging to the Chinese army.
And the old CZ-2C launcher, the civil twin of the Chinese intercontinental missile DF-5, which first flew 35 years ago in September 1982, was not disappointing at this crucial moment and allowed Chinese to succeed, who nevertheless succeeded practically all that they undertake from the first blow in recent years.
It is therefore not surprising to see the CALT Institute, one of the leading Chinese rocket manufacturers and also the CZ-2C, titled its article after the success of the launch: "Success, Our Faith".
The start
Designed by the Chinese Academy of Casting Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of the Chinese aerospace group CASC, the CZ-2C is a two-stage liquid propellant launcher specializing in low-orbit (LEO) launches and heliosynchronous orbit (SSO).
It is an "old" launcher that is 43.72 meters high and 245 tonnes on take-off, capable of placing up to 3,300 kg in circular LEO orbit 300 km × 29 ° from the Xichang Space Center (XSLC).
13 satellites with return capsules, Iridium satellites, as well as several military and experimental satellites have already been placed in orbit thanks to the CZ-2C, which now totals 41 successes on 42 missions.
The only failure of the launcher dates from August 18, 2011 in the launch of the military satellite SJ-11-04 due to a mechanical failure of the 2nd floor.
The rocket is also used as a carrier for various military vehicles such as the DF-ZF hypersonic glider . This is not surprising in itself when it is known to be derived directly from the Chinese ICFM missile DF-5.
The launch of the YG-30 Group 01 triplet took place on Friday 29th September at around 12:21 local time, at XSLC firing point No. 3. This is the first time in 13 years that the rocket has taken off at the XSLC center, so that the current teams of the center are very unfamiliar with the CZ-2C.
To this end, CALT teams traveled five times to the XSLC to coordinate integration activities with local teams.
The CZ-2C is the only launcher that has been launched since the three Chinese space centers TSLC, JSLC and XSLC (but not yet at WSLC, the new and 4th Chinese space center on Hainan Island).
CZ-2C take-off at Xichang Space Center (Photo: CASC)
For its first triple launch, the designers of CZ-2C have designed a new bracket under the cover. This new configuration will integrate in plan "V4.0" that the institute CALT has planned to extend the already long career of the rocket.
The goal is to further reduce the preparation cycle of CZ-2C and make it a reliable, responsive and very cheap vehicle for small satellites, especially those that are too large for new solid propellers such as the CZ- 11 and KZ-1A .
Content of the geographic location of the XSLC center that enters the high wind season at high altitudes, engineers have also reprogrammed the CNG system to address this problem, plus others that come from the higher humidity in a very high region stormy.
A single message to air navigators was created to signal a fallout zone located in the very center of the very mountainous Guizhou province.
A2966 / 17
Q) ZPKM / QRTCA / IV / BO / W / 000/999 / 2647N10713E015
A) ZPKM B) 1709290413 C) 1709290435
E) A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED bounded BY:
N263510E1072250-N264301E1065708-N265820E1070259-N265028E1072844
BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-UNL.
F) GND G) UNL
The fallout zone announced by NOTAM for this launch (Images: East Pendulum)
It should be noted that one of the Chinese space monitoring and control vessels, Yuan Wang 3 , was deployed in the Pacific Ocean near Fiji and New Caledonia during this launch mission.
This exit comes after a long period of MLU work carried out at this building of over 20,000 tons.
The mysterious triplet YG-30 Group 01
The mystery of the triplet YG-30 Group 01 (遥感 三十 号 01 组) comes not only from the little information communicated about it, but also to its name.
Indeed, although we know full well that the names YG, Yao Gan which means "Remote sensing" in Chinese, are only nicknames and are in no case their true internal names, like the "Cosmos" satellites of Russia, but the name YG-30 had in fact already been used once, more recently, in May 2016 to designate a military optical reconnaissance satellite, known as NORAD 41473.
And the low circular orbit of the three YG-30 Group 01 satellites, 600 km × 600 km × 35 °, does not correspond to that of the YG-30 of May last year. They therefore have no apparent link.
As for its role, the official communiqué simply indicates that it is a constellation to "study the electromagnetic environment of space".
The synthetic image displayed on the screen of the BACC control center in Beijing shows three identical satellites, pointing its sensors towards the ground and having a pair of solar panels.
The first analyzes based on this image and the low circular orbit inclined at 35 ° suggest that it is an ELINT constellation that is mainly addressed to the wide area of the East China Sea to the sea ( YG-9 , YG-16 , YG-17 , YG-20 and YG-25) , launched between 2010 and 2014 , which are in heliosynchronous orbits (SSO) 1100 km × 1100 km × 63 °.
According to a letter sent by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to its subsidiary Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites , which is responsible for the YG-30 Group 01 project, the development would have lasted three years for these satellites of "vital" importance.
It is also known that the satellites arrived at the XSLC for integration on 21 August, 39 days before launch.
Based on the CZ-2C launcher's capability from the XSLC center and the YG-30 constellation Group 01 orbit, the three Chinese satellites weigh less than 3,000 kg, less than one tonne each.
The carrying capacity of the CZ-2C rocket launched from the XSLC space center (Image: CASC)
The first TLEs indicate four objects placed in orbit, including the second stage of the CZ-2C launcher (2017-058D).
Historical statistics
This launch is the 9ᵉ Chinese space launch in 2017, the 42ᵉ for the CZ-2C launcher, and the 251ᵉ for the Long March launch vehicle family.
For the time being, the Long Marche rockets of the CASC group total 240 successes and 11 failures, a success rate of 95.62%.
Here is the tracking table of all the Chinese space launches since the first one in 1970, including those that are not realized by the Long March launchers -
Chinese Space Launch Tracking Chart - Date: 2017-09-29
Henri K.
Many called it the "Come-back" mission not to be missed after a series of failure of the Chinese aerospace sector - first that put the ChinaSat-9Acommunication satellite into an orbit and the new heavy - lift CZ-5 , resulting in the loss of the 7,500 kg SJ-18 geostationary satellite - why all the pressure was on the shoulders of the CZ-2C rocket teams, this Friday, September 29, during the launch mission to Xichang to place a mysterious charge in LEO orbit, later named the YG-30 Group 01 satellites, a triplet of small satellites a priori belonging to the Chinese army.
And the old CZ-2C launcher, the civil twin of the Chinese intercontinental missile DF-5, which first flew 35 years ago in September 1982, was not disappointing at this crucial moment and allowed Chinese to succeed, who nevertheless succeeded practically all that they undertake from the first blow in recent years.
It is therefore not surprising to see the CALT Institute, one of the leading Chinese rocket manufacturers and also the CZ-2C, titled its article after the success of the launch: "Success, Our Faith".
The start
Designed by the Chinese Academy of Casting Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of the Chinese aerospace group CASC, the CZ-2C is a two-stage liquid propellant launcher specializing in low-orbit (LEO) launches and heliosynchronous orbit (SSO).
It is an "old" launcher that is 43.72 meters high and 245 tonnes on take-off, capable of placing up to 3,300 kg in circular LEO orbit 300 km × 29 ° from the Xichang Space Center (XSLC).
13 satellites with return capsules, Iridium satellites, as well as several military and experimental satellites have already been placed in orbit thanks to the CZ-2C, which now totals 41 successes on 42 missions.
The only failure of the launcher dates from August 18, 2011 in the launch of the military satellite SJ-11-04 due to a mechanical failure of the 2nd floor.
The rocket is also used as a carrier for various military vehicles such as the DF-ZF hypersonic glider . This is not surprising in itself when it is known to be derived directly from the Chinese ICFM missile DF-5.
The launch of the YG-30 Group 01 triplet took place on Friday 29th September at around 12:21 local time, at XSLC firing point No. 3. This is the first time in 13 years that the rocket has taken off at the XSLC center, so that the current teams of the center are very unfamiliar with the CZ-2C.
To this end, CALT teams traveled five times to the XSLC to coordinate integration activities with local teams.
The CZ-2C is the only launcher that has been launched since the three Chinese space centers TSLC, JSLC and XSLC (but not yet at WSLC, the new and 4th Chinese space center on Hainan Island).
CZ-2C take-off at Xichang Space Center (Photo: CASC)
For its first triple launch, the designers of CZ-2C have designed a new bracket under the cover. This new configuration will integrate in plan "V4.0" that the institute CALT has planned to extend the already long career of the rocket.
The goal is to further reduce the preparation cycle of CZ-2C and make it a reliable, responsive and very cheap vehicle for small satellites, especially those that are too large for new solid propellers such as the CZ- 11 and KZ-1A .
Content of the geographic location of the XSLC center that enters the high wind season at high altitudes, engineers have also reprogrammed the CNG system to address this problem, plus others that come from the higher humidity in a very high region stormy.
A single message to air navigators was created to signal a fallout zone located in the very center of the very mountainous Guizhou province.
A2966 / 17
Q) ZPKM / QRTCA / IV / BO / W / 000/999 / 2647N10713E015
A) ZPKM B) 1709290413 C) 1709290435
E) A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED bounded BY:
N263510E1072250-N264301E1065708-N265820E1070259-N265028E1072844
BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-UNL.
F) GND G) UNL
The fallout zone announced by NOTAM for this launch (Images: East Pendulum)
It should be noted that one of the Chinese space monitoring and control vessels, Yuan Wang 3 , was deployed in the Pacific Ocean near Fiji and New Caledonia during this launch mission.
This exit comes after a long period of MLU work carried out at this building of over 20,000 tons.
The mysterious triplet YG-30 Group 01
The mystery of the triplet YG-30 Group 01 (遥感 三十 号 01 组) comes not only from the little information communicated about it, but also to its name.
Indeed, although we know full well that the names YG, Yao Gan which means "Remote sensing" in Chinese, are only nicknames and are in no case their true internal names, like the "Cosmos" satellites of Russia, but the name YG-30 had in fact already been used once, more recently, in May 2016 to designate a military optical reconnaissance satellite, known as NORAD 41473.
And the low circular orbit of the three YG-30 Group 01 satellites, 600 km × 600 km × 35 °, does not correspond to that of the YG-30 of May last year. They therefore have no apparent link.
As for its role, the official communiqué simply indicates that it is a constellation to "study the electromagnetic environment of space".
The synthetic image displayed on the screen of the BACC control center in Beijing shows three identical satellites, pointing its sensors towards the ground and having a pair of solar panels.
The first analyzes based on this image and the low circular orbit inclined at 35 ° suggest that it is an ELINT constellation that is mainly addressed to the wide area of the East China Sea to the sea ( YG-9 , YG-16 , YG-17 , YG-20 and YG-25) , launched between 2010 and 2014 , which are in heliosynchronous orbits (SSO) 1100 km × 1100 km × 63 °.
According to a letter sent by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to its subsidiary Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites , which is responsible for the YG-30 Group 01 project, the development would have lasted three years for these satellites of "vital" importance.
It is also known that the satellites arrived at the XSLC for integration on 21 August, 39 days before launch.
Based on the CZ-2C launcher's capability from the XSLC center and the YG-30 constellation Group 01 orbit, the three Chinese satellites weigh less than 3,000 kg, less than one tonne each.
The carrying capacity of the CZ-2C rocket launched from the XSLC space center (Image: CASC)
The first TLEs indicate four objects placed in orbit, including the second stage of the CZ-2C launcher (2017-058D).
Historical statistics
This launch is the 9ᵉ Chinese space launch in 2017, the 42ᵉ for the CZ-2C launcher, and the 251ᵉ for the Long March launch vehicle family.
For the time being, the Long Marche rockets of the CASC group total 240 successes and 11 failures, a success rate of 95.62%.
Here is the tracking table of all the Chinese space launches since the first one in 1970, including those that are not realized by the Long March launchers -
Chinese Space Launch Tracking Chart - Date: 2017-09-29
Henri K.
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