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Long March 6A
The moment of the ignition of CZ-6A Y1
Function Launch vehicle
Manufacturer Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology
Country of origin China
Size
Height50 m (160 ft)
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Mass530,000 kg (1,170,000 lb)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to 700 km (430 mi) SSO
Mass4,500 kg (9,900 lb)
Associated rockets
Family Long March
Comparable Antares
Soyuz-2
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sites Taiyuan LA-9A
Total launches5
Success(es)5
First flight29 March 2022
Last flight26 March 2024
Boosters
No. boosters4
Diameter2.0 m (6 ft 7 in)
Maximum thrust1,214 kN (273,000 lbf)
Total thrust4,828 kN (1,085,000 lbf)
Propellantsolid
First stage
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by2 YF-100
Maximum thrust2,376 kN (534,000 lbf) [1]
Specific impulse300 seconds ( sea level)
335 seconds ( vacuum) [2]
Propellant RP-1/ LOX
Second stage
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Powered by1 YF-115
Maximum thrust180 kN (40,000 lbf) [1]
Specific impulse341.5 seconds (vacuum) [3]
Propellant RP-1/ LOX

The Long March 6A ( Chinese: 长征六号甲运载火箭) or Chang Zheng 6A as in pinyin, abbreviated LM 6A for export or CZ 6A within China, is a Chinese launch vehicle of the Long March family, which was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) [4] 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 on March 29, 2022, successfully reaching orbit. [5] It was also the first launch from the newly built launch complex 9A in Taiyuan.

Launch statistics

1
2
2022
2023
2024
  •   Failure
  •   Partial failure
  •   Success
  •   Planned

List of launches

Flight number Serial number Date (UTC) Launch site Payload Orbit Result
1 Y1 29 March 2022
09:50 [5]
Taiyuan, LA-9A Pujiang-2
Tiankun-2
SSO Success
2 Y2 11 November 2022
22:52
Taiyuan, LA-9A Yunhai-3 01 SSO Success
3 Y5 10 September 2023
04:30
Taiyuan, LA-9A Yaogan 40A
Yaogan 40B
Yaogan 40C
LEO Success
4 Y4 31 October 2023
22:50
Taiyuan, LA-9A Tianhui 5A
Tianhui 5B
SSO Success
5 Y3 26 March 2024
22:51
Taiyuan, LA-9A Yunhai-3 02 SSO Success

Mishaps

After the release of the Yunhai 3 following the Y2 launch of 11 November 2022, the Long March 6's upper stage exploded and broke into more than 50 pieces of debris, which expanded to more than 350 pieces. The vehicle was supposed to re-enter in one piece and then burn up and it's unclear why it exploded instead. [6] [7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b ZHANG Wei-dong, WANG Dong-bao (2016). "New Generation Cryogenic Quick Launching Launch Vehicle and Development". Aerospace Shanghai.
  2. ^ "Chinese YF-100 (Russian RD-120) to Power CZ-5". SPACEPAC, The Space Public Affairs Committee. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  3. ^ "中国新一代液氧煤油发动机3:YF100/115主要特性 - 深空网". www.shenkong.net (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
  4. ^ "Development of China's new "Changzheng 6" carrier rocket commences". People's Daily Online. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  5. ^ a b Beil, Adrian (29 March 2022). "China debuts Chang Zheng 6A, teases more variants". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  6. ^ Jones, Andrew. "Chinese rocket body breaks up in orbit after successful satellite launch". Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  7. ^ Passant, Rabie. "Chinese Rocket Stage Now a Cloud of Orbital Debris After Disintegrating in Space". Retrieved 22 March 2023.