Tianlong-2 | Demo Flight
Launch Successful
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Launch Window
April 2, 2023, 8:23 a.m. - April 2, 2023, 9:47 a.m.
April 2, 2023, 8:23 a.m. - April 2, 2023, 9:47 a.m.
First launch of the Tianlong-2 and first launch for the Chinese private company Space Pioneer. It carried a dummy payload and the iTaikong Science cubesat to SSO for technology demonstration and public outreach Earth observation purposes.
Launch success.
Rescheduled for April 2 per new NOTAMs.
Launch apparently delayed with related NOTAMs cancelled.
Launch window extended.
Launch delayed per NOTAM cancellation and insider rumors.
Tianlong-2 is a medium-sized, 3 stage rocket powered by RP-1 and liquid oxygen, with payload capability of 2 tonnes to LEO and 1.5 tonnes to SSO. Tianlong-2 has a liftoff weight of 150 tonnes, liftoff thrust of 190 tonnes and initially uses 3 YF-102 expander cycle RP-1/LOX engines on the first stage each with a thrust of 63.3 metric tonnes. The second stage uses 1 TH-11 staged combustion RP-1/LOX with a thrust of 30.6 metric tonnes. 7 TH-11 engines will be used for the 1st stage of subsequent vehicles. The third stage uses 1 TH-31 NTO/MMH hypergolic fuel engine with 3000 N thrust and 8 x 150 N RCS thrusters. The Tianlong-2 is the first Chinese RP-1-fueled private orbital rocket to attempt an orbital flight.
Space Pioneer is a Chinese private space launch company based in Beijing. It was founded in 2015 by Kang Yonglai.
WIKI
Space Pioneer has become the first Chinese private launch firm to achieve orbit with a liquid propellant rocket.
Space Pioneer has become the first Chinese private launch firm to achieve orbit with a liquid propellant rocket.
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