Watch the Launch

Beidou-3 G4

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission: Navigation

Geostationary Transfer Orbit Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

This satellite is a part of the geostationary component of the 3rd phase of the Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system. It features a phased array antenna for navigation signals and a laser retroreflector and additionally deployable S/L-band and C-band antennas.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • May 17, 2023, 3:27 a.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • May 15, 2023, 2:47 a.m.

Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload identity not confirmed.


Long March 3

Family:
Configuration: 3B

The Long March 3B is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. Introduced in 1996, it is launched from Launch Area 2 and 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan. A three-stage rocket with four strap-on liquid rocket boosters, it is currently the most powerful member of the Long March rocket family and the heaviest of the Long March 3 rocket family, and is mainly used to place communications satellites into geosynchronous orbits.

Specifications
  • Max Stage
    3
  • Length
    54.8 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    426.0 T
  • Thrust
    5923.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 3
  • Family
  • Variant
    3B
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 3B
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $70000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    11500.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    5100.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    2000.0 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 491 Failures: 14 Pending: 6

Agency Type:

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

INFO WIKI

Related News

SpaceNews

China launches new science probes, SAR sat and replacement Beidou satellite

China conducted a pair of launches last week to replenish its Beidou navigation system and send science and radar tech test satellites into orbit.

Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Complex 2 (LC-2)


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 11 hours ago
Starlink Group 11-6
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 3
Success
2 days, 9 hours ago
TJSW-14
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Chinese classified satellite claimed to be for communication technology test purposes. Actual mission not known.


Long March 6A
Success
2 days, 20 hours ago
G60 Polar Group 06
Launch Complex 9A - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

18 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites with Ku, Q and V band payloads for the G60 constellation operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technolo…


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 9 hours ago
Starlink Group 11-8
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 20 hours ago
Starlink Group 13-1
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

A batch of 21 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Ceres-1
Success
5 days, 15 hours ago
5 satellites
Launch Area 95A - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Carried 5 satellites to sun synchronous orbit: * Yunyao-1 37 to 40 * Jitianxing A-05


Long March 2D
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
PRSC-EO1
Launch Area 4 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Optical Earth observation satellite for SUPARCO of Pakistan. Hitchhiking payloads: * DAO-1 * Blue Carbon 1


Starship
Failure
1 week, 2 days ago
Flight 7
Orbital Launch Mount A - SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA

Seventh test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.


New Glenn
Success
1 week, 2 days ago
Maiden Flight
Launch Complex 36A - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Maiden flight of the New Glenn launch vehicle. Will carry the prototype Blue Ring payload tug and payload hoisting platform, consisting of communicat…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Mission 1 & Hakuto-R M2 “Resilience”
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Blue Ghost is a commercial lunar lander developed by Firefly Aerospace for NASA’s CLPS program. Blue Ghost is designed to bring up to 155kg of payloa…