Chinese Space Launches

[skywatcher]

A Long March 2D rocket launched Yaogan-35C satellites 29 July 2022.
It was China's 27th orbital launch this year.
View attachment 165765
Coming up next:
A Long March 4B rocket will launch XX satellites 4 Aug 2022.

mission logo

 

[skywatcher]

mission logo
View attachment 165766

A Long March 4B rocket launched TECIS (Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Inventory Satellite) 4 Aug 2022.
It was China's 28th orbital launch this year and the 430th launch of Long March rocket since 1970 and the 100th consecutive successful launch of Long March rocket family.

Mission logo

Two launches today, coming up next:
A Long March 2F rocket will launch Experimetal Spaceplane 16:30 UTC 4 Aug 2022.
A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket will launch Taijing-1-01/02 satellite 9 Aug 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch Zhongxing-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will launch 11 satellites XX Aug 2022.
A Long March 6 rocket will launch 16 satellites XX Aug 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 4B rocket launched TECIS (Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Inventory Satellite) 4 Aug 2022.
It was China's 28th orbital launch this year and the 430th launch of Long March rocket since 1970 and the 100th consecutive successful launch of Long March rocket family.
View attachment 166507

Mission logo
View attachment 166508

Two launches today, coming up next:
A Long March 2F rocket will launch Experimetal Spaceplane 16:30 UTC 4 Aug 2022.
A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket will launch Taijing-1-01/02 satellite 9 Aug 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch Zhongxing-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will launch 11 satellites XX Aug 2022.
A Long March 6 rocket will launch 16 satellites XX Aug 2022.

A Long March 2F rocket launched classified Experimetal Spaceplane 5 Aug 2022.
It was China's 29th orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket will launch Taijing-1-01/02 satellite 9 Aug 2022.

 

[rockdog]

New type

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 2F rocket launched classified Experimetal Spaceplane 5 Aug 2022.
It was China's 29th orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket will launch Taijing-1-01/02 satellite 9 Aug 2022.

A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket launched 3 satellites 9 Aug 2022.
It was China's 30th orbital launch this year.
Ceres-1 is a small solid launcher with payload capacity of 350 kg to LEO.
Galactic Energy is a Chinese space launch startup founded in 2018.

For more information, visit

Galactic Energy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Coming up next:
A Long March 6A rocket will launch 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch Zhongxing-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Aug 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket launched 3 satellites 9 Aug 2022.
It was China's 30th orbital launch this year.
Ceres-1 is a small solid launcher with payload capacity of 350 kg to LEO.
Galactic Energy is a Chinese space launch startup founded in 2018.
View attachment 167020
For more information, visit

Galactic Energy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Coming up next:
A Long March 6A rocket will launch 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch Zhongxing-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Aug 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket launched 3 satellites 9 Aug 2022.
It was China's 30th orbital launch this year.
Ceres-1 is a small solid launcher with payload capacity of 350 kg to LEO.
Galactic Energy is a Chinese space launch startup founded in 2018.
View attachment 167020
For more information, visit

Galactic Energy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Coming up next:
A Long March 6A rocket will launch 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch Zhongxing-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Aug 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

CMSE Office: Mengtian Laboratory Module, the second lab module of the Chinese Space Station,
has been completed all the research and development procedure in Shanghai Aerospace Equipments Manufacturer Co. and arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Site today.

Various final assembly and testing works will be carried out for the module in Wenchang Launch Site as planned.

Then the Mengtian Laboratory Module will be launched from Wenchang on 27 October 2022.

Mission logo

 

[skywatcher]

A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket launched 3 satellites 9 Aug 2022.
It was China's 30th orbital launch this year.
Ceres-1 is a small solid launcher with payload capacity of 350 kg to LEO.
Galactic Energy is a Chinese space launch startup founded in 2018.
View attachment 167020
For more information, visit

Galactic Energy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Coming up next:
A Long March 6 rocket will launch 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch Zhongxing-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Aug 2022.

A Long March 6 rocket launched 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
It was China's 31st orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Aug/Sept 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 6 rocket launched 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
It was China's 31st orbital launch this year.
View attachment 167112

Coming up next:
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Aug/Sept 2022.

Mission logo

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 6 rocket launched 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
It was China's 31st orbital launch this year.
View attachment 167112

Updated launch schedule:
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Long March 4C rocket will launch XX satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in Aug/Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch ASO-S(Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory ) 20 Oct 2022.
A Long March 5B rocket will launch Mengtian laboratory module 27 Oct 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft 6 Nov 2022.
A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket will launch Zengzhang-1 satellite XX Dec 2022.
A Long March 2F rocket will launch Shenzhou-15 crewed spacecraft XX Dec 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 2F rocket launched classified Experimetal Spaceplane 5 Aug 2022.
It was China's 29th orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Galactic Energy Ceres-1 rocket will launch Taijing-1-01/02 satellite 9 Aug 2022.

Chinese secretive spaceplane marks 10 days in orbit

Chinese spaceplane marks 10 days in orbit – Spaceflight Now

spaceflightnow.com

Recovered payload fairing from the Long March 2F rocket that launched China’s reusable experimental spacecraft on Aug. 4.

A reusable Chinese spacecraft that may resemble the U.S. military’s X-37B spaceplane has logged 10 days in orbit since its Aug. 4 launch, but what it’s doing remains a mystery.

The spacecraft launched from the Jiuquan space center in the Gobi Desert on top of a Chinese Long March 2F rocket around 1600 GMT (12 p.m. EDT) on Aug. 4, flying inside the launcher’s aerodynamic nose cone. The liquid-fueled rocket, which is typically used to launch astronaut crews into orbit, deployed the mysterious Chinese spacecraft into an orbit ranging between 215 miles and 368 miles (346-by-593 kilometers) in altitude with an inclination of 50 degrees to the equator.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency called the payload a “reusable experimental spacecraft” in a brief statement after the launch.

“After a period of in-orbit operation, the spacecraft will return to its scheduled landing site in China,” Xinhua said. Chinese officials said the mission will test “reusable technologies and in-orbit service technologies” to support the “peaceful use of space.”

But the secretive nature of the mission suggests a military purpose.

Beyond the short statements from the Chinese government, little is publicly known about the mission, which follows a similar test flight in 2020 that lasted two days. International observers believe the spacecraft that flew in 2020 landed on a runway at a remote military airbase near China’s Lop Nor nuclear test site in the Taklamakan Desert of northwestern China.

The reusable spacecraft left an object behind in orbit before re-entering the atmosphere and landing. Analysts speculated it might be a service module, a power and propulsion package, or a subsatellite released from the test spacecraft.

Observers have speculated the reusable spacecraft China launched in 2020 and again this month may be similar to the U.S. military’s X-37B spaceplane, which has flown on six missions since 2010. The U.S. military has acknowledged the existence of the X-37B program, and has released photos and specifications of the spacecraft.

But what the X-37B does in orbit has largely remained a secret. The military’s two unpiloted X-37B vehicles, built by Boeing and refurbished in a hangar at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, host classified payloads and land on runways at the end of their missions. The program was developed by the U.S. Air Force, and the X-37B spacecraft are now operated by the U.S. Space Force.

One X-37B is currently in orbit, and is approaching the 27-month mark in its mission following launch from Cape Canaveral in May 2020. The X-37B measure about 29 feet (8.9 meters) long with a wingspan of nearly 15 feet (4.5 meters).

Photos posted on Chinese social media this weekend appeared to show the payload fairing from the Long March 2F rocket that launched the Chinese reusable test spacecraft Aug. 4. The payload shroud is composed of two halves that jettison a few minutes after liftoff to reveal the spacecraft encapsulated inside.

The fairing on the Long March 2F rocket measures about 13.8 feet (4.2 meters) in diameter. Imagery of the fairing claimed to be from the Aug. 4 launch show extensions on each side the shroud that could have been added to accommodate the wings of a spaceplane similar to the X-37B.


The launch of what is likely a Chinese military spaceplane Aug. 4 capped a busy week for China’s rockets.

A new solid-fueled launcher developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences lifted off from Jiuquan on July 27 at 12:12 a.m. EDT (0412 GMT) and placed six small satellites into polar orbit. The rocket, named the Lijian 1, was successful on its first flight, becoming the largest solid-fueled satellite launcher in China.

On July 29 at 9:28 a.m. EDT (1328 GMT), a Long March 2D rocket launched from the Xichang space center in southwestern China with three Yaogan 35 military spy satellites.

Another launch at 11:08 p.m. EDT on Aug. 3 (0308 GMT on Aug. 4) used a Long March 4B rocket to launch a Chinese environmental satellite into polar orbit. The Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon Inventory Satellite, also named Goumang, was accompanied on the mission by two smaller secondary payloads.

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 6 rocket launched 16 satellites 10 Aug 2022.
It was China's 31st orbital launch this year.
View attachment 167112

Coming up next:
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat-19 telecommunication satellite 17 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 04A-C satellites 25 Aug 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Aug/Sept 2022.

A Long March 2D rocket launched Yaogan-35 04A-C reconnaissance satellites 19 Aug 2022.
It was China's 32nd orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Long March 11 rocket will launch XX satellites 3:00 UTC 22 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch XX satellites 3:05 UTC 24 Aug 2022.
A Kuaizhou-1A rocket will launch XX satellites 31 Aug 2022.
A Long March 4C rocket will launch XX satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat telecommunication satellite 7 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in XX Sept 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 2D rocket launched Yaogan-35 04A-C reconnaissance satellites 19 Aug 2022.
It was China's 32nd orbital launch this year.
View attachment 168469
Coming up next:
A Long March 11 rocket will launch XX satellites 3:00 UTC 22 Aug 2022.
A Long March 2D rocket will launch XX satellites 3:05 UTC 24 Aug 2022.
A Kuaizhou-1A rocket will launch XX satellites 31 Aug 2022.
A Long March 4C rocket will launch XX satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat telecommunication satellite 7 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in XX Sept 2022.

Mission logo

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 2D rocket launched Yaogan-35 04A-C reconnaissance satellites 19 Aug 2022.
It was China's 32nd orbital launch this year.
View attachment 168469

A Kuaizhou-1A rocket launched Chuangxin-16 satellites 23 Aug 2022.
It was China's 33rd orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Long March 2D rocket will launch XX satellites 3:05 UTC 24 Aug 2022.
A Long March 11 rocket launched XX satellites 2X Aug 2022.
A Long March 4C rocket will launch XX satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Long March XX rocket will launch XX satellites 6 Sept 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat telecommunication satellite 7 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in XX Sept 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Kuaizhou-1A rocket launched Chuangxin-16 satellites 23 Aug 2022.
It was China's 33rd orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Long March 2D rocket will launch XX satellites 3:05 UTC 24 Aug 2022.
A Long March 11 rocket launched XX satellites 2X Aug 2022.
A Long March 4C rocket will launch XX satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Long March XX rocket will launch XX satellites 6 Sept 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat telecommunication satellite 7 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in XX Sept 2022.

All the Kuaizhous

 

[skywatcher]

A Kuaizhou-1A rocket launched Chuangxin-16 satellites 23 Aug 2022.
It was China's 33rd orbital launch this year.

A Long March 2D rocket launched Beijing3B satellites 24 Aug 2022.
The satellites mainly provides telemetry data services for the fields of land resource management, agricultural resource survey, ecological environment monitoring and urban comprehensive application.
It was China's 34th orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Long March 4C rocket will launch Chaohu satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Kuaizhou-1A rocket will launch XX satellites 6 Sept 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat telecommunication satellite 7 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in XX Sept 2022.

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 2D rocket launched Beijing3B satellites 24 Aug 2022.
The satellites mainly provides telemetry data services for the fields of land resource management, agricultural resource survey, ecological environment monitoring and urban comprehensive application.
It was China's 34th orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Long March 4C rocket will launch Chaohu satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Kuaizhou-1A rocket will launch XX satellites 6 Sept 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat telecommunication satellite 7 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in XX Sept 2022.

Mission logo

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 2D rocket launched Beijing3B satellites 24 Aug 2022.
The satellites mainly provides telemetry data services for the fields of land resource management, agricultural resource survey, ecological environment monitoring and urban comprehensive application.
It was China's 34th orbital launch this year.

Coming up next:
A Long March 4C rocket will launch Chaohu satellites 2 Sept 2022.
A Kuaizhou-1A rocket will launch XX satellites 6 Sept 2022.
A Long March 3B rocket will launch ChinaSat telecommunication satellite 7 Sept 2022.
A Long March 7A rocket will launch XX satellites 13 Sept 2022.
A Smart Dragon 3 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch XX Sept 2022.
[TBD]A Land Space methane powered Zhuque-2 rocket will attempt its first orbital launch in XX Sept 2022.

A Long March 4C rocket launched Yaogan-33 Group 02 satellites 2 Sept 2022.
It was China's 35th orbital launch this year.

 

[skywatcher]

A Long March 4C rocket launched Yaogan-33 Group 02 satellites 2 Sept 2022.
It was China's 35th orbital launch this year.
View attachment 170243

It will be used for scientific experiments, land resources surveys, crop yield estimation, and disaster prevention and relief.
This was the 435th flight of the Long March series carrier rockets.
Mission logo

Coming up next:
A Long March 2D rocket will launch Yaogan-35 Group 5 satellites 7 Sept 2022.