Featured Image Credit: 9ifly
Lift Off Time | December 15, 2021 – 02:00 UTC | 10:00 BJT |
|---|---|
Mission Name | GeeSAT-1A & 1B |
Launch Provider | ExPace (part of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation CASIC) |
Customer | Geespace |
Rocket | Kuaizhou-1A |
Launch Location | Site 95, Jiuquan Space Launch Complex, North West China |
Payload mass | Unknown, but up to 300 kg (660 lb) |
Where did the satellite go? | Unknown low-Earth orbit |
Did they attempt to recover the first stage? | No, the Kuaizhou is not capable of booster recovery |
Where did the first stage land? | It crash landed in remote countryside |
Did they attempt to recover the fairings? | No, the Kuaizhou is not capable of fairing recovery |
Were these fairings new? | Yes |
This was the: | – 14th launch of a Kuaizhou 1A rocket – 132nd orbital launch attempt of 2021 – 8th orbital launch failure of 2021 |
Where to watch | If available, and official replay will be listed here |
How Did It Go?
ExPace failed to place a pair of GeeSATs into low-Earth orbit following a failure with the rocket. The Chinese state news stated that there was “abnormal performance” during the rockets flight, and noted that an investigation has been started into the cause of the failure. This was the first launch of a GeeSAT.
What Is GeeSAT?
The GeeSAT satellites are private Chinese navigation satellites. Used to provide centimeter-level positioning services to marine, automotive, and unmanned vehicle operations, the GeeSATs were developed by Geespace, which is part of the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
This was the first launch of the GeeSAT constellation, and as the launch vehicle had an anomaly the constellation contains 0 satellites.
Kuaizhou-1A
The Kuaizhou launch vehicle is a four stage small-lift launch vehicle, meant for sending small sats to low-Earth orbit. The vehicle is similar in both size and capability to Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle; however, unlike Electron the first three stages of Kuaizhou are solid fuel, with only the last stage being liquid fueled.
First flying in 2017, Kuaizhou-1A is based on the two-stage DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile. It can loft up to 300 kg to a 500 km low-Earth orbit, or 250 kg into a 500 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
Overall, the rocket is 20 m (~66 ft) tall with a maximum width of 1.4 m (~4 ft). At take-off, it has a mass of 30 tonnes, and flies from a mobile transporter-erector vehicle, rather than a fixed launch pad.
“Kuai zhou” means “fast vessel,” signifying that the launch preparations only require six members and can be carried out in under 24 hours.
Kuaizhou-1A First Stage
The first stage is 1.4 m wide and has a solid fuel motor. It has a mass of 16.6 metric tons at take off, after which the solid motor burns for 65 s, delivering 2,352 Ns/kg (239.8 lbf s/lb) of thrust. Stage separation occurs 83 seconds into the flight when the vehicle is about 36 km in altitude.
Kuaizhou-1A Second Stage
The second stage is also 1.4 m in diameter and also uses a solid fuel motor. The second stage is shorter than the first stage but not by much. The mass of this stage is 8,686 kg. The motor burns for 62 seconds, providing 2,810 Ns/kg (286.5 lbf s/lb) of thrust. Stage separation takes place 161 seconds into the flight.
Kuaizhou-1A Third Stage
The third stage is slightly slimmer than the first two, at 1.2 m. It is significantly shorter than the second stage. This stage has a mass of 3,183 kg, and its motor burns for 55 seconds, giving 2,850 Ns/kg (290.6 lbf s/lb).
Kuaizhou-1A Fourth Stage
The fourth stage is the only part of the rocket that uses liquid fuel. It uses Monomethylhydrazine (MMH) for fuel and Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4) as oxidizer. Similar to the 3rd stage, it is also 1.2 m wide.
After stage 4 shutdown, the stage coasts for about 8 seconds. This is so that the vehicle will have the appropriate angular velocities for correct payload deployment.
Launch Sequence And Countdown
| Time before launch | Procedure |
| T-240 min | Prepare for launch; launch vehicle erection |
| T-200 min | The whole checking of the launch vehicle |
| T-190 min | Satellite test (The test is allocated 1 hour, but the time could be adjusted based on the actual situation) |
| T-130 min | Install lattice rudders |
| T-95 min | Aiming |
| T-70 min | Correction of guidance before launch |
| T-25 min | Communication & Tracking System power-on |
| T-15 min | Recall satellite with GPS/BD2 |
| T-10 min | Demolition of defend breeze block |
| T-9 min 30 sec | Communication & Tracking System starts work |
| T-9 min 30 sec | Start the flow of launch |
| T-2 min | Control System power switch-over |
| T-1 min | Automatic ignition procedure start; engine gimbal check, safety control turning to internal power |
| T-0 sec | Ignition |
Rocket section adapted from Andy Law.
