Featured Image Credit: 9ifly
Lift Off Time | November 24, 2021 – 23:41:00 UTC November 25, 2021 – 07:41:00 BJT |
|---|---|
Mission Name | Shiyan-11, flight Y13 |
Launch Provider | ExPace (part of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation CASIC) |
Customer | No information available |
Rocket | Kuaizhou-1A |
Launch Location | Jiuquan Space Launch Complex, North West China |
Payload mass | Unknown, but up to 300 kg (660 lb) |
Where did the satellite go? | Low Earth Orbit (LEO) |
Did they attempt to recover the first stage? | No |
Where did the first stage land? | It crash landed in remote countryside, hopefully avoiding any populated areas |
Did they attempt to recover the fairings? | No |
Were these fairings new? | Yes |
This was the: | – 46th Chinese launch of 2021 – 13th launch of a Kuaizhou 1A rocket – 121st orbital launch attempt of 2021 |
Where to watch | Official livestream (if available) |
How Did It Go?
ExPace, a division of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), launched the Shiyan-11 technology demonstration satellite on a Kuaizhou-1A rocket. The satellite is now in Low Earth Orbit.
What Is The Shiyan-11?
The Shiyan-11 satellite is a technology demonstrator in Low Earth Orbit. It has been reported that it was observed to be in a 489 x 502 km Sun-synchronous orbit.
Shiyan-11 was developed by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), according to a post from CAST’s parent company China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). There is no other public information available.
Kuaizhou-1A
The Kuaizhou rocket is a four-stage, small rocket for relatively low mass payloads to Low Earth Orbit. Its capabilities are similar to Rocket Lab’s Electron. Unlike Electron, however, it mostly uses solid fuel motors. Only the 4th stage is liquid-fueled.
Kuaizhou-1A is based on the two-stage DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile, and it first flew a commercial payload in 2017. 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 tons, and it flies from a mobile transporter-erector vehicle, rather than a fixed launch pad.
“Kuai zhou” means “fast vessel”. The launch preparation only requires 6 people and can be carried out in just 24 hours.
*The performance values listed for the stages below are taken from the Kauizhou-1A User’s Manual v1.1 (from 2016) and may be subject to revision if a later version of the Manual exists.
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 at 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. Its 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
The text below is based on what was available in the User’s Manual. Not all of the phrases are completely clear. Where possible, we’ve adapted the text for improved clarity – but in other cases, we quote verbatim from the User’s Manual.
| 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 |
