Qilu-1, Qilu-4 & others

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Dedicated Rideshare

Low Earth Orbit Launch Complex 16 Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

This launch delivered 9 commercial satellites into low Earth orbit. Qilu-1 and Qilu-4, as well as most other satellites on this mission, are Earth observation spacecraft. One other satellite on this mission is the scientific research and technology verification satellite NEO 1 with the purpose of observing small space bodies, as well as testing the technology to use deployable net for catching small objects in orbit.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • April 27, 2021, 3:56 a.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • April 27, 2021, 3:45 a.m.

Liftoff confirmed.


Cosmic_Penguin • April 23, 2021, 10:15 a.m.

Added per NOTAM.


Long March 6

Family:
Configuration:

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    1
  • Max Stage
    3
  • Length
    29.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    103.0 T
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Long March 6
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 6
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • 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: 592 Failures: 15 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

Spaceflight Now

Chinese Long March 6 rocket delivers nine small satellites to space

Nine small Chinese satellites, including a technology experiment to test out ways to capture space debris, rode a Long March 6 rocket into orbit April 27 on a rideshare mission managed by China Great Wall Industry Corp., the government-own…

NASA Spaceflight

China launches Long March 6 with nine satellites

China’s lightweight Long March (Chang Zheng) 6 rocket has successfully launched nine small satellites in a rideshare mission Tuesday. The launch took place at 11:20 China Standard Time (03:20 UTC) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre i…

SpaceNews

China launches space mining test spacecraft on commercial rideshare mission

China launched a small space mining test spacecraft and eight other commercial satellites into orbit on a Long March 6 rocket late Monday.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Complex 16


Falcon 9
Success
1 day, 22 hours ago
NROL-95
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Classified payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office.


Long March 6A
Success
2 days, 4 hours ago
TJSW-27A & B
Launch Complex 9A - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

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


Long March 7A
Success
2 days, 17 hours ago
Tianlian 3-01
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Tianlian is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications geostationary satellite series. The TL-3 (Tian Lian 3) satellites are the 3rd generation…


Falcon 9
Success
6 days, 13 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-51
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.


Starship
Success
1 week ago
Flight 13
Orbital Launch Pad 2 - SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA

13th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle. Second flight of Starship V3. For the first time, Starship will carry 20 V3 Starlink sa…


Kinetica 1
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
5 satellites
Launch Area 130 - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Share-ride of 5 commercial Earth observation and technology demonstration satellites to SSO, including SpaceTY's TY-48. Details TBD.


Long March 3B/E
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Tianlian 2-06
Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) - Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Tianlian is a Chinese data tracking and relay communications geostationary satellite series. The TL 2 (Tian Lian 2) satellites represent the second g…


Gravity-1
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
9 satellites
Yellow Sea (launch location 5) - Haiyang Oriental Spaceport

Carried 9 satellites on a share-ride to sun-synchronous orbit. Details TBD.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
MRV-1
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

The Northrop Grumman/SpaceLogistics MRV-1 is a mission extension payload including a mission robotic vehicle (MRV) and multiple mission extension pod…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Starlink Group 17-39
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.