Long March 2C

Long March 2C
Rendering of Long March 2C
FunctionLaunch vehicle
ManufacturerCALT
Country of originPeople's Republic of China
Size
Height42 m (138 ft) [1]
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft) [1]
Mass233,000 kg (514,000 lb)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to Low Earth orbit
Mass3,850 kg (8,490 lb)
Payload to Sun-synchronous orbit
Mass2C: 1,400 kg (3,100 lb)
2C/SMA: 1,900 kg (4,200 lb)
Payload to GTO
Mass2C/SM: 1,250 kg (2,760 lb)
Associated rockets
FamilyLong March
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesLA-2/138 and
LA-4/SLS-2, JSLC
LA-7 and LA-9, TSLC
LA-3, XSLC
Total launches78
Success(es)76
Failure(s)1
Partial failure(s)1
First flight9 September 1982
Last flight22 June 2024
First stage
Height25.72 m
Diameter3.35 m
Propellant mass162,706 kg (358,705 lb)
Powered by1 YF-21C
Maximum thrust2,961.6 kN (665,800 lbf)
Specific impulse2,556.5 m/s (8,387 ft/s)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Second stage
Height7.757 m
Diameter3.35 m
Propellant mass54,667 kg (120,520 lb)
Powered by1 YF-24E
(1 x YF-22E (Main))
(4 x YF-23C (Vernier))
Maximum thrust741.4 kN (166,700 lbf) (Main)
47.1 kN (10,600 lbf) (Vernier)
Specific impulse2,922.37 m/s (297.999 s) (Main)
2,834.11 m/s (288.999 s) (Vernier)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Third stage – (optional)
Height1.5 m
Diameter2.7 m
Propellant mass125 kg (276 lb)
Powered by1 solid motor
Maximum thrust10.78 kN (2,420 lbf)
Specific impulse2,804 m/s (285.9 s)
PropellantAP / HTPB
Third stage (optional) – YZ-1S
Powered by1 × YF-50D
Maximum thrust6.5 kN (1,500 lbf)
Specific impulse315.5 s (3.094 km/s)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH

The Long March 2C (LM-2C), also known as the Chang Zheng 2C (CZ-2C), is a Chinese orbital launch vehicle, part of the Long March 2 rocket family. Developed and manufactured by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT),[2] the Long March 2C made its first launch on 9 September 1982. It is a two-stage launch vehicle with storable propellants, consisting of Nitrogen Tetroxide and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine. The launch vehicle was derived from the DF-5 ICBM.[2]

Several variants of this launch vehicle have been built, all using an optional third solid motor stage:[3]

  • 2C/SD: Commercial satellite launcher with a multi-satellite smart dispenser allowing delivery of two satellites simultaneously
  • 2C/SM: Version for delivery of small satellites to high orbits
  • 2C/SMA: Improved version of the 2C/SM

According to the website Gunter's Space Page,[4] in addition to the launches listed in the following table, there may have been six additional CZ-2C launches during 2014 and 2015. These possible launches apparently were conducted at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on the following dates: 9 January 2014, 7 August 2014, 2 December 2014, 7 June 2015, 20 August 2015, and 23 November 2015; five of these six launches were apparently successful, while the launch on 7 August 2014 appears to have failed. However, due to the lack of additional sources for these six launches, they are not currently included in the following launch list.

Aerodynamic grid fins were added on the Long March 2C in 2019 to help guide falling stages away from populated areas. China is studying using reusable rocket technology in the future.[5] A fairing recovery system through parachutes has been tested during the Yaogan 30-09 and Yaogan 30-10 launches in order to improve control of debris landing inland on potentially populated areas.[6]

  1. ^ a b "LM-2C". China Great Wall Industry Corporation. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b "China's Orbital Launch Activity 2020" (PDF). Bryce Space and Technology. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Chang Zheng-2C (Long March-2C)". SinoDefence. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. ^ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "CZ-2 (Chang Zheng-2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  5. ^ Clark, Stephen (10 June 2020). "China launches ocean monitoring satellite". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. ^ Navin, Joseph (18 July 2021). "China tests fairing recovery technologies on Long March 2C launch with four satellites". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 19 July 2021.

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