Watch the Launch

Demo Flight (Pujiang-2 & Tiankun-2)

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Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Test Flight

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Launch Complex 9A Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

First launch of the Long March 6A rocket. Pujiang 2 is a Chinese technology demonstration satellite. Tiankun-2 is a satellite developed by CASIC, which is a technology demonstration mission to test out their new small satellite bus.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • March 29, 2022, 10:29 a.m.

Launch successful


Cosmic_Penguin • March 28, 2022, 3:03 p.m.

Updated per official photos that launch may be of the 1st LM-6A, however launch vehicle identity is still uncertain.


Cosmic_Penguin • March 26, 2022, 4:34 p.m.

Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload and launch vehicle identity not known.


Long March 6A

Family:
Configuration:

The Long March 6A is a Chinese launch vehicle of the Long March family, which was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). The vehicle is a further development of the Long March 6, with 2 YF-100 engines on the first stage as opposed to 1 on the Long March 6, augmented by 4 solid rocket boosters. The Long March 6A is China's first rocket with solid rocket boosters. The maiden launch of the Long March 6A took place 29 March 2022, successfully reaching orbit. It was also the first launch from the newly built launch complex 9A in Taiyuan.

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    1
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    50.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
    5.2 m
  • Launch Mass
    530.0 T
  • Thrust
    7230.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 6A
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 6A
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    6400.0 kg

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 517 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

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China launches first Long March rocket with solid boosters

China launched its first Long March 6A from a new launch complex at Taiyuan Tuesday, successfully sending two satellites into sun-synchronous orbits.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

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