Featured image credit: Xinhua
Lift Off Time | March 30, 2022 – 02:29 UTC | 10:29 BJT |
|---|---|
Mission Name | Tianping-2 A/B/C |
Launch Provider | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
Customer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) |
Rocket | Long March 11 |
Launch Location | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China |
Payload mass | Unknown, but up to 700 kg (1,500 lb) |
Where did the spacecraft go? | Low Earth orbit |
Did they attempt to recover the first stage? | No, this is not a capability of the Long March 11 |
Where did the first stage land? | It crashed in North-West China |
Did they attempt to recover the fairings? | No, this is not a capability of the Long March 11 |
Were these fairings new? | Yes |
This was the: | – 12th Long March 11 launch – 413th Long March launch – 33rd orbital launch attempt of 2022 (32nd successful) |
Where to watch | If available, an official replay will be listed here |
How Did It Go?
China has successfully launched three satellites, the Tianping-2 A, Tianping-2 B, and Tianping-2 C, atop a Long March 11 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This launched marks the 12th Long March 11 mission.
Tianping-2 A/B/C
Very little is known about the three Tianping-2 payloads, the Tianping-2 A, Tianping-2 B, and Tianping-2 C, but it has been reported that they will be used for “atmospheric research and orbital model prediction improvement”.
What Is The Long March 11?
The Long March 11 is a four-stage small satellite launch vehicle developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The rocket is 20.8 m tall and 2 m in diameter and is capable of putting up to 700 kg (1,500 lb) into low-Earth orbit or 350 kg (770 lb) into a Sun-synchronous orbit.
The rocket is incredibly versatile, having been designed with the capability of launching on short notice and launching from road vehicles and ships, specifically specially converted barges, namely the Tai Rui and the De Bo 3. The maiden flight of the rocket happened in September 2015 and it has since launched twelve times, two of which have been at sea.
