Watch the Launch

Maiden Flight

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Low Earth Orbit 101 Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

This is the maiden flight of Long March 5B rocket, which is to be used for delivering modules for China's new space station. This launch is also the first test flight for China's new generation crewed spacecraft.

Long March 5B

Family:
Configuration: B

The configuration of the CZ-5B variant consists of the Long March 5 core stage with its four strapped-on liquid-fueled boosters, but the usual second stage will be absent; in place of the second stage would be heavier low earth orbit payloads.

Specifications
  • Stages
    1
  • Length
    53.66 m
  • Diameter
    5.0 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.0 m
  • Launch Mass
    837.0 T
  • Thrust
    10565.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 5B
  • Family
  • Variant
    B
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 5B
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    25000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 574 Failures: 15 Pending: 10

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

Arstechnica

Large chunks of a Chinese rocket missed New York City by about 15 minutes

SpaceNews

Bridenstine criticizes China for uncontrolled rocket reentry

Spaceflight Now

U.S. military tracking unguided re-entry of large Chinese rocket

NASA Spaceflight

New Chinese crew capsule completes test flight, returns to Earth

SpaceNews

New Chinese spacecraft landing marks step toward future crewed lunar missions

Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

101


Zhuque-2E
Success
6 hours, 29 minutes ago
Mass Simulator
Launch Area 96A - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

2.8 tonnes Mass Simulator launched to a 900 km polar orbit on a test flight proving further upgrades to the ZQ-2E, including a longer 1st stage and e…


Long March 6A
Success
1 day, 21 hours ago
SpaceSail Polar Group 09
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 Spacesail Technologies with…


Falcon 9
Success
2 days, 7 hours ago
NROL-172
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Thirteenth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Offi…


Long March 7
Success
3 days, 9 hours ago
Tianzhou-10
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Ninth cargo delivery mission to the Chinese space station.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Starlink Group 17-29
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 4 days ago
CAS500-2 & Others
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Ride-share of 45 satellites including: * CAS500-2 (KASA, South Korea) The South Korean CAS500-1 and -2 satellites will image the Earth in pan-chr…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 5 days ago
Starlink Group 10-38
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Soyuz-5
Success
1 week, 6 days ago
Demo Flight
45/1 - Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan

Demonstration Flight for Russia's new Soyuz-5 launch vehicle, with a mass simulator on board. The launch was suborbital with the simulator splashing …


Ariane 64
Success
2 weeks ago
Amazon Leo (LE-02)
Ariane Launch Area 4 - Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, thi…


Falcon 9
Success
2 weeks ago
Starlink Group 17-36
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.