China efficiently debuted the Jielong-3 orbital rocket from the Tai Rui Barge within the Yellow Sea. Liftoff occurred at 06:35 UTC, and the success of the mission was confirmed a bit later. The payload for this mission was a rideshare of 14 satellites.
Eight of the rideshare payloads had been Jilin Gaofen (“excessive decision”) satellites, seven of which had been numbered 44-50. These satellites are a part of a distant sensing satellite tv for pc system that’s operated by Chang Guang Satellite tv for pc Know-how, which is a part of the Chinese language Academy of Sciences (CAS).
One barely completely different satellite tv for pc of the Jilin constellation was additionally included on this launch. The Jilin-1 01A01 satellite tv for pc will probably be used for various functions, relying on the necessity of the constellation, and can be utilized for distant sensing or navigation.
Satellites are being built-in into the Jielong-3 dispenser. (Credit score: CNSA)
The constellation is used to look at Earth and accumulate information in quite a few fields, comparable to geography and land surveying, ocean monitoring, and atmospheric analysis. Jilin Gaofen is predicted to achieve 138 satellites over time.
One other a part of the maiden launch was a satellite tv for pc of the Tianqi constellation. The kick-off of the constellation was in 2018, and it’s used as a LEO communications satellite tv for pc that may present web of issues communications. The total constellation is deliberate to characteristic 38 LEO satellites that purpose to boost connectivity for the trade in China.
Additionally a part of this preliminary launch was the Fengtai Shaonian 2 college satellite tv for pc, three Dongpo Earth surveillance satellites, the HEAD 2H Automated Identification System (AIS) receiver, two Jinzijing Earth surveillance payloads, and the Huoju 1-01 analysis satellite tv for pc. Not each payload for this launch obtained actual functions or mass particulars.
The rocket for immediately’s launch was Jielong-3 (Good Dragon 3). It’s the second rocket that has launched with the Jielong identify. In August 2019, the Jielong-1 rocket was launched as a part of a program that had the aim to allow quick and cost-efficient launch capabilities. The launch was confirmed a hit, and since then, no different Jielong-1 has flown.
Initially, a Jielong-2 was deliberate as properly. The plan to develop the 21-meter-long rocket, nevertheless, was canceled in September 2021.
Earlier than the launch, the rocket was carried on the Tai Rui Barge, which was towed by the Bei Hai Jiu 118 help ship.
Jielong-3 on the Tai Rui barge. (Credit score: CNSA)
The Jielong-3 rocket consists of 4 solid-fueled rocket phases. It’s 31.8 meters tall with a diameter of about 2.65 meters. It’s deliberate to launch payloads as much as 1,500 kg into Solar-synchronous orbit (SSO), with immediately’s payload mass being unknown. It’s deliberate to primarily make the most of the ocean launch capabilities within the Yellow Sea and use the barges comparable to DeBomethane-powered 3, or immediately’s barge Tai Rui.
The payload fairing is 3.35 meters in diameter and provides the rocket its very front-heavy form. Of the 145 t of mass at liftoff, about 71 t is the stable motor of the primary stage.
In distinction to different stable rockets of China, comparable to Chang Zheng 11 (Lengthy March 11), this rocket will not be “chilly launched” from the barge. Chilly launched implies that the rocket is expelled from a launch tube on the barge, after which ignited within the air. For Jielong-3, the ignition occurs on the barge itself. It produces 2,000 kN of thrust at liftoff. It’s launched on a grid, instantly over the ocean, so the water of the ocean is used as a suppression system for the launch car.
No “chilly begin” for this stable gas rocket…I ponder how the deck holds after stable gas dumping on it.https://t.co/Oqd0ehWqYr pic.twitter.com/bp3j9NKVjd
— Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin) December 9, 2022
The rocket reveals some very shut similarities with the lately debuted ZK-1A rocket, which additionally makes use of stable motors. Not solely are the size and diameter very comparable, but in addition the rocket motor seems to be the identical. The precise background of this similarity will not be identified but, however it might be a really comparable foundation for the rocket that’s used for each of those flight autos. That is additional supported by the truth that each autos occurred in numerous arms of the Chinese language authorities area program.
For transport, the Jielong-3 is transferred to a launch barge at its harbor in Haijang in a horizontal configuration. Later, the rocket is then raised vertically on the ship for launch. In later makes an attempt, the plan is to hold a number of rockets and payloads on the ship when going out to sea to additional enhance the launch cadence of Chinese language rockets. A manufacturing capability of 20 rockets per yr is deliberate for the Jielong rockets.
Down the road, a 3rd Jielong household rocket is deliberate, referred to as Jielong-4. It goals to additional enhance the stable rocket capabilities of China with a 500-ton thrust at liftoff rocket. No additional particulars on the attainable timeline and maiden launch for this rocket are generally known as of now.
Sea launch capabilities have gotten more and more necessary for the Chinese language rocket program. After the Chang Zheng 11H already carried out 4 launches from completely different barges on the Yellow Sea, that is the second launch car that makes use of it as a launch pad. Personal corporations, comparable to Galactic Vitality, have additionally voiced their curiosity to launch from there.
This launch was already the third launch of China this week, after the Chang Zheng 2D Gaofen mission on Thursday at 18:31 UTC, and the Kuaizhou 11 mission carrying the Xingyun VDES payload on Wednesday at 01:15 UTC. Each missions had been confirmed to achieve success.
Zhuque-2 is now vertical at Web site 96.
Picture taken 2022-12-06 03:44:25 UTC. pic.twitter.com/OO3KGs4ewK
— Harry Stranger (@Harry__Stranger) December 6, 2022
With this launch, China stands at 58 launches in 2022, with a number of extra launches deliberate earlier than the closing of the yr. This consists of the potential for launching the primary methane-based rocket to orbit. The corporate LandSpace, with their ZhuQue-2 rocket, is in a race with the American firm Relativity House for the milestone. Each rockets are presently at their pads, with ZhuQue-2 presently concentrating on Dec. 14 for a maiden launch.
(Lead picture: Jielong-3 lifts off from the Yellow Sea. Credit score: CNSA)
