 |
Loading
|
Changzheng 2D
The Changzheng 2D (CZ-2D, or "Long March 2D") was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) as a medium-lift launch vehicle for LEO launch missions. The two-stage rocket was derived from the CZ-2, but had been incorporated with designs and technologies of the CZ-4A for improved performance. The rocket was slightly heavier than the CZ-2C, with a payload capacity of 3,100kg to LEO.
The Chinese military began to develop the improved FSW-2 (Jianbing 1B) reconnaissance satellite with increased mass in the mid-1980s. As the CZ-2C didn't have enough payload capacity to put the satellite into orbit, a heavier launch vehicle was needed. Initially CALT proposed to redesign the CZ-2C to further increase its payload capacity, but it was rejected due to the high cost. Finally the Ministry of Astronautics decided in early 1990 to adopt the CZ-2D design proposed by SAST for launching the new FSW satellite [1].
The development of the CZ-2D began in February 1990 and took two years to complete. The first rocket was rolled out in 1992 and was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on 9 August 1992, successfully sending the 2,600kg FSW-2-01 satellite into orbit.
Changzheng 2D
Specifications
| Stages | 2 |
| Boosters | 0 |
| Overall length | 33.67 m |
| Core stage diameter | 3.35 m |
| Take-off mass | 237 tonnes |
| Take-off thrust | 2,961.6 kN |
| Thrust-weight ratio | 1.28 |
| LEO capacity | 3,100 kg |
| First flight | 1992 |
| Launch site | Jiuquan Taiyuan |
| Status | Operational |
Stages
| First-stage | Second-stage | |
| Length | 24.66 m | 9.007 m |
| Diameter | 3.35 m | 3.35 m |
| Gross mass | 192 tonnes | 40.644 tonnes |
| Empty mass | 9.82 tonnes | 3.122 tonnes |
| Propellant mass | 183 tonnes | 34.736 tonnes |
| Engine | YF-21B | (Main) YF-22B (Swivelling) 4 X YF-23 |
| Propellant | N2O4/UDMH | N2O4/UDMH |
| Thrust* | 2,961.6 kN | (Main) 719.8 kN (Swivelling) 46.1 kN |
| Isp* | 2,550 N.s/kg | (Main) 2,822 N.s/kg (Swivelling) 2,762 N.s/kg |
| Burn time | 154.2 sec | (Main) 113.48 sec (Swivelling) 274.42 sec |
* Sea-level values for the first-stage, and vacuum values for the second-stage
Notes
- 李成智 [Li Cheng-zhi], "中国航天技术发展史稿 中部" ["A Draft History of Space Technology in China (Part 2 of 3)"], 山东教育出版社 [Shandong Education Press], 2005, pp. 442-444.
Last updated: 23 February 2012