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Chinese Space Activities in 2010
From 2010, China’s space programme entered a period of intensive launches, with 15~20 missions planned each year. A total of 15 launches were conducted in 2010, sending 20 satellites or spacecraft into space, with a successful rate of 100%. This had tied the number of U.S. space launches of that year. The highlight of this year’s missions was the launch of the second lunar orbiting probe Chang’e 2, which was sent to capture high-definition images of the lunar surface to help select a suitable landing spot for the subsequent robotic landing mission.
On 11 January, Chinese state media reported a ground-based midcourse anti-ballistic missile test, which destroyed an incoming missile beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. The test was believed to have used a rocket-boosted kinetic kill vehicle (KKV), and was said “having achieved the expected objectives”.
On 8 March, Chinese state media reported that a new round of astronaut selection process had been completed. Seven new astronaut candidates, including five males and two females, were chosen to join the existing astronaut group of 14 people.
Launches
| # |
# of yr. |
Date |
Spacecraft |
Role |
Orbit |
Launch vehicle |
Launch site |
Status |
| 132 |
1 |
2010-01-17 |
Compass-G1 |
Navigation |
GEO |
CZ-3C |
Xichang |
Successful |
| 133 |
2 |
2010-03-05 |
Yaogan 9 |
Reconnaissance |
Polar |
CZ-4C |
Jiuquan |
Successful |
| 134 |
3 |
2010-06-02 |
Compass-G3 |
Navigation |
GEO |
CZ-3C |
Xichang |
Successful |
| 135 |
4 |
2010-06-15 |
Shijian 12 |
Scientific |
LEO |
CZ-2D |
Jiuquan |
Successful |
| 136 |
5 |
2010-08-01 |
Compass-IGSO1 |
Navigation |
GEO |
CZ-3A |
Xichang |
Successful |
| 137 |
6 |
2010-08-09 |
Yaogan 10 |
Reconnaissance |
Polar |
CZ-4C |
Taiyuan |
Successful |
| 138 |
7 |
2010-08-24 |
Tianhui 1 |
Mil survey |
LEO |
CZ-2D |
Jiuquan |
Successful |
| 139 |
8 |
2010-09-05 |
SinoSat 6 |
Telecom |
GEO |
CZ-3B |
Xichang |
Successful |
| 140 |
9 |
2010-09-22 |
Yaogan 11 |
Reconnaissance |
LEO |
CZ-2D |
Jiuquan |
Successful |
| 141 |
10 |
2010-10-01 |
Chang'e 2 |
Lunar probe |
Lunar |
CZ-3C |
Xichang |
Successful |
| 142 |
11 |
2010-10-06 |
Shijian 6-04A/B |
Scientific |
Polar |
CZ-4B |
Taiyuan |
Successful |
| 143 |
12 |
2010-10-31 |
Compass-G4 |
Navigation |
GEO |
CZ-3C |
Xichang |
Successful |
| 144 |
13 |
2010-11-04 |
Fengyun 3B |
Meteorology |
SSO |
CZ-4C |
Taiyuan |
Successful |
| 145 |
14 |
2010-11-24 |
Chinasat 20A |
Mil comsat |
GEO |
CZ-3A |
Xichang |
Successful |
| 146 |
15 |
2010-12-17 |
Compass-IGSO2 |
Navigation |
GEO |
CZ-3B |
Xichang |
Successful |
Space Launch League Table 2010
| Year |
Success |
Failure |
Total |
| Russia |
30 |
1 |
31 |
| United States |
15 |
0 |
15 |
| China |
15 |
0 |
15 |
| Europe |
6 |
0 |
6 |
| India |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Japan |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| South Korea |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Israel |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Statistics (Launch Site)
| Year |
Jiuquan |
Xichang |
Taiyuan |
| 2010 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
Statistics (Launch Vehicle)
| Rocket |
Success |
Failure |
Total |
| CZ-2C |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| CZ-2D |
3 |
0 |
3 |
| CZ-2F |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| CZ-3A |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| CZ-3B |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| CZ-3C |
4 |
0 |
4 |
| CZ-4B |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| CZ-4C |
3 |
0 |
3 |
Last updated: 23 January 2012
