Long March 3

Active

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)

Feb. 14, 1996

Description

The Long March 3B is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. Introduced in 1996, it is launched from Launch Area 2 and 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan. A three-stage rocket with four strap-on liquid rocket boosters, it is currently the most powerful member of the Long March rocket family and the heaviest of the Long March 3 rocket family, and is mainly used to place communications satellites into geosynchronous orbits.

Specifications
  • Max Stage
    3
  • Length
    54.8 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    426 T
  • Thrust
    5923 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 3
  • Family
  • Variant
    3B
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 3B
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $70000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    11500 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    5100 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
    2000 kg
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Government
Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei
CASC 1999

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.

Long March 3B/E | Beidou-3 G4

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
May 17, 2023, 2:49 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

This satellite is a part of the geostationary component of the 3rd phase of the Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system. It features a phased array antenna for navigation signals and a laser retroreflector and additionally deployable S/L-band and C-band antennas.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Fengyun-4B

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
June 2, 2021, 4:17 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

China's geostationary meteorological satellite program FY-4 (Feng Yun 4) is the second generation of chinese geostationary meteorological satellites.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Beidou-3 G3

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
June 23, 2020, 1:43 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

This satellite is a part of the geostationary component of the 3rd phase of the Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system. It features a phased array antenna for navigation signals and a laser retroreflector and additionally deployable S/L-band and C-band antennas.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Nusantara Dua

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
April 9, 2020, 11:46 a.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

Nusantara Dua is a high throughput communications satellite built by CAST for Indonesian satellite operator PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara. It will replace the Palapa D satellite. Nusantara Dua will provide broadband internet and broadcasting access to users in Indonesia, as well as some regions of Asia-Pacific and Australia.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Beidou-3 G2

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
March 9, 2020, 11:55 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

This satellite is a part of the geostationary component of the 3rd phase of the Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system. It features a phased array antenna for navigation signals and a laser retroreflector and additionally deployable S/L-band and C-band antennas.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | TJS-5 (TJSW-5)

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Jan. 7, 2020, 3:20 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

TJS-5 is a geostationary communications satellite. It offers satellite communication, television and broadcasting services, while also verifying high-throughput communications technology.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Zhongxing 2D (Chinasat 2D)

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Jan. 10, 2019, 5:11 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chinasat 2D is a geostationary communications satellite.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Beidou-3 G1

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Nov. 1, 2018, 3:57 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

This satellite is a part of the geostationary component of the 3rd phase of the Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite navigation system. It features a phased array antenna for navigation signals and a laser retroreflector and additionally deployable S/L-band and C-band antennas.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Shijian-13/Chinasat-16

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
April 12, 2017, 11:04 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

This is a Chinese experimental geostationary communications satellite. Besides testing the electric propulsion, the satellite is also reported to carry Chinas first high-throughput satellite payload (HTS), with a capacity of 20 GB per second. The satellite is aiming to provide Ka-band satellite broadband and multimedia services. Additionally it is also to conduct space-to-ground laser communications experiments.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | TJS-2 (TJSW-2)

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Jan. 5, 2017, 3:18 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

This is supposedly a test communications satellite to operate in geostationary orbit.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Fengyun-4A

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Dec. 10, 2016, 4:11 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Fengyun-4A (also known as FY-4A) is the first unit of the improved meteorological satellites series. Besides its main meteorological mission, it is also capable of solar observations for better space weather monitoring capabilites. The satellite is expected to operate for 5 years.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit
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Long March 3B | Chang'e 3 & Yutu

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Dec. 1, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chang'e 3 is an uncrewed lunar exploration mission consisting of a robotic lander and China's first lunar rover Yutu. The main objective of the mission is to achieve China's first soft landing and roving exploration on the Moon, as well as performing lunar-based astronomical observation and studying lunar topography and geology.

Lunar Orbit
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Long March 3B | Chinasat-10

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
June 20, 2011, 4:13 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.


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Long March 3B | Chinasat-6A

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Sept. 4, 2010, 4:14 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.


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Long March 3B | Palapa-D

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Aug. 31, 2009, 12:09 a.m.
Status: Launch was a Partial Failure
Unknown Mission

There are no mission or payload details available for this launch.


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Long March 3B | Zhongxing 9

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
June 9, 2008, 12:15 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chinese geostationary communications satellite

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | Zhongxing 6B

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
July 5, 2007, 12:08 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chinese geostationary communications satellite

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | Xinnuo 2

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Oct. 28, 2006, 4:20 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chinese geostationary communications satellite

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | Apstar 6

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
April 12, 2005, noon
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Communications Ku and C band transponders.

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | Xinnuo 1

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
July 18, 1998, 9:20 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Chinese communications satellite

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | Zhongwei 1

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
May 30, 1998, 10 a.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

The Zhongwei 1 (Chinastar 1) satellite, an A2100A class comsat built by Lockheed Martin for the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Co., part of the Chinese telecoms ministry. Zhongwei 1 will serve China, India, Korea and southeast Asia with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. It was orbited on a CZ-3B launch vehicle using a supersynchronous transfer orbit.

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | Apstar 2R

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Oct. 16, 1997, 7:13 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Space Systems/Loral's (SS/L) Apstar-2R is one of the most powerful spacecraft in Asia-Pacific service. Launched in China in 1997 by APT Satellite Company, Ltd., the satellite offers regional voice, video, and data services to an area large enough to link Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region into a broad telecommunications network.

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | Agila 2

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Aug. 19, 1997, 5:50 p.m.
Status: Launch Successful
Mission:

Agila 2, delivered on orbit in 1997, is the most powerful telecommunications satellite in service in the Asia-Pacific region. The new satellite is a prime example of SS/L's dominance in the emerging domestic and international broadcast satellite market.

Geostationary Orbit
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Long March 3B | INTELSAT 708

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Feb. 14, 1996, 7:01 p.m.
Status: Launch Failure
Mission:

Geostationary communications satellite

Geostationary Orbit
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Falcon 9
Success
6 hours, 52 minutes ago
Starlink Group 6-57
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 5
Success
3 days, 15 hours ago
Chang'e 6
101 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Chang'e 6/CE-6 is scheduled to launch in 2024 to return samples from the Far Side of the Moon (near southern edge of the Apollo Basin) for the first …


SR75
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3 days, 19 hours ago
Maiden Flight
Pad 1 - Koonibba Test Range, South Australia

Test flight of HyImpulse's SR75 sounding rocket


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 22 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-55
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral, FL, USA

A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 6 hours ago
WorldView Legion 1 & 2
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

WorldView Legion is a constellation of Earth observation satellites built and operated by Maxar. Constellation is planned to consist of 6 satellites …