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: 543 Failures: 14 Pending: 4

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
2 days ago
Starlink Group 11-30
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 1 hour ago
Starlink Group 6-79
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.


Long March 3
Success
3 days, 22 hours ago
TJSW-21
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.


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 5 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-78
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

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


Electron
Success
4 days, 20 hours ago
Follow My Speed (BlackSky Gen-3 3)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Note: Payload and customer identities were not publicly annouced, identification is per USSF orbital data. 3rd of the BlackSky Gen-3 high resoluti…


Long March 2
Success
6 days, 5 hours ago
Shijian 30 A-C
Launch Area 4 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

3 Chinese satellites described as for “Space Environment Measurements” purposes. Actual usage not known.


Falcon 9
Success
6 days, 8 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-94
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.


Electron
Success
6 days, 20 hours ago
Prometheus Run (VAN)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C) - Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA

Sub-orbital launch under Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program. This mission was lead by MDA and deployed a…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Sentinel-6B
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (launched November 2020) and Sentinel-6B make up the Sentinel-6 mission, also known as Jason Continuity of Service (…


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Starlink Group 6-85
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.