The 300th Mission of Long March Family Launched Successfully

A LM-3B carrier rocket at 00:28 Beijing time on March 10 was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, launching the ChinaSat-6C into its preset orbit, marking the 300th launch of the Long March family.

Developed by CASC, the Long March family is absolutely the main force of carrier rockets in China's aerospace. The Long March family has conducted 96.4% of China's total launch missions and launched 99.2% of China's total launch mass. The first Long March carrier rocket was launched in 1970. Since then, China has put 17 types of Long March rocket and 5 types of upper stage into service, launching 506 spacecraft into their preset orbits successfully. With the ability to launch to different orbits of LEO, MEO and GEO, and launch different types of payloads, the Long March family has reached a world-class level in carrying capacity, launch frequency, success rate, accuracy and adaptability, becoming a China first, world famous brand using independent intellectual property as part of the international high-tech industry.

The Long March family carrier rockets have strongly supported the successful implementation of a series of major engineering missions such as manned spaceflight, lunar exploration,BeiDou satellite navigation, and high-resolution Earth observation system over the years, laying a solid foundation for accelerating the construction of science and technology power and space power.

A LM-3B carrier rocket is launching the ChinaSat-6C into its preset orbit, marking the 300th launch of the Long March familyPhoto: GAO Nan

ChinaSat-6C waiting for launchPhoto: GAO Nan

It took 37 years for the Long March family to perform 100 launches from April 24, 1970 that launched LM-1 carrier rocket to June 1, 2007 that launched Sino-3 satellite atop a LM-3A carrier rocket. The next 100 launches only took 7 years up until to December 7, 2014 that launched CBERS-1 satellite atop a LM-4B carrier rocket. The third 100 launches were made in only the past 4 years.

According to statistics, the success rate of the Long March carrier rocket's 300 launches is about 96%. Compared with the first 50 launches, the success rate of the last 250 launches has significantly improved and has a stable trend. The Long March series carrier rocket has launched 225 spacecraft into their preset orbits, in the third 100 launches with a 97% success rate,ranking first in the world. In particular, the Long March carrier rocket has conducted 37 successful launches in 2018 alone,marking the first time China has launched more rockets into orbit than any other country in a year.

There are 4 types of new generation Long March launch vehicle which have been put into service and 4 types under development. The new heavy launch vehicle is at the stage of key technology research and practical demonstration. The old and new carrier rockets will achieve comprehensive alteration with the development of the new generation Long March launch vehicle, achieving new leapfrog in the carrier rocket abilities. At the same time, major breakthroughs will be made in China's space transportation from one-time use to re-use and from single space transportation to the combination of space transportation and space operation.

The LM-3B carrier rocket was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. Besides ChinaSat-6A,ChinaSat-6B, ChinaSat-9 and ChinaSat-9A, ChinaSat-6C is a new communications satellite that provides high-quality radio and TV transmission services. The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, and will be operated by the China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd.

At this new starting point, CASC, as the leading force within China's space industry, will continue to develop the Long March brand through technological innovation and basic capability improvements, build the new generation of Long March launch vehicles with advanced technology, optimized cost, reliable production and first-class measurement, to meet the satellite launch requirements from home and abroad, thus realizing the high-quality development of China's space industry, making a new and greater contribution to the construction of a space power. (LI Shuheng/China Space News)