Launch News China's mobile satellite launcher! Long March 11 test flight, September 25, 2015

[Cosmic Penguin]

Just 5 days after very first launch of one of China's next generation rockets, the Vega class Long March 6, the Chinese are going to make another maiden flight of another of their rockets! :blink:

The Long March 11 rocket is the least known of China's next generation rockets. This is not surprising, because it is pretty much an ICBM derivative! It is a 4 stage, solid propellant powered mini satellite launcher that is probably a modification of the DF-31 ICBM. Designed to fill the roles like the American's Minotaur I/Pegasus rockets, it can carry about 300 kg to a low Earth polar orbit. LM-11 is actually China's third SRB satellite launcher, but the first one was a failed private venture attempt without government funding more than 10 years ago and the second one was specifically designed for a quick-response satellite system in an experimental program. The LM-11, on the other hand, was developed specifically as part of the Chinese government's plan to introduce new launchers.

Currently the only picture known of this little rocket is this model:

The very first LM-11 rocket is going to fly in a few hours time at around 01:45 UTC tomorrow from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (apparently from a mobile transporter-erector-launcher like its ICBM sibling). The payload is 3-4 small satellites that their identities I have not yet been able to confirm, so watch out this space when it flies!

 

[Soheil_Esy]

Part 1

Mission Briefing
Launch date: 2015-09-25/09:41:40 (GMT+8)
Launcher: CZ-11
Payload（Country）: STU-2A/B/C (上科大二号卫星), Pujiang-1 (浦江一号卫星) （PRC）
Launch site（Country）: Jiuquan SLC （PRC）
Launch pad: N/A
Status: Success
Orbit type and parameter: SSO 481Km
Remark: maiden flight

Solid propellant launchers comparison

Launcher Nation First stage diameter in meters Lenght in meter s Mass in tons Payload capability Launch cost USD First flight
KT-1 PRC 1.4 13.6 19.3 100kg LEO N/A 2002.09.15
KT-2 PRC 1.7 26.65 65 300kg LEO N/A N/A
KZ PRC 1.4 18 32 430kg 500km SSO 6M (2013) 2013.09.25
FT-1 PRC 1.4 19.4 30 250kg 500km SSO same as KZ N/A
CZ-11 PRC 2.0 20.8 58 350kg 700km SSO N/A 2015.09.25
Minotaur 1 US 1.67 19.17 36.15 335kg 740km SSO 12.50M (1999) 2000.01.27
Athena 1 US 2.36 18.9 66.3 360kg 800km SSO 17M (2000) 1995.08.15
START-1 RUS 1.8 22.7 47 300kg 500km SSO 9M (1999) 1993.03.25
Epsilon JAP 2.5 24.4 91 450kg 500km SSO 38M (2013) 2013.09.14
Shavit-1 ISR 1.35 17.7 27.25 300kg LEO 15M (1999) 1995.04.05
Shavit-2 ISR 1.35 20 31.10 550kg LEO N/A 2007.06.11

2015-9-26

KT class launcher is for military use, ASAT
KZ class is military, for rapid reaction
CZ-11 is civilian

KT was intended to be a new class of solid rocket launchers. Researches stopped after the collapse of its company. Further development of the KT by XX (科工) lead to the first ASAT system. Since then it is KT's only specific mission.

KZ was needed by the military, and has a common root with KT. The third stage is attached to the satellite, meaning the third stage basically becomes a surveillance satellite. Limiting its roles.

FT is the civilian version of KT. Its payload will separate from the third stage. An addition of a fourth stage seems highly likely.

CZ-11 is developed by CASC, and the first genuine all solid launcher. Its main advantage is rapidity to prepare and deploy.

KT is related to the DF-21 family, CZ-11 is from the DF-31 family.

http://lt.cjdby.net/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=2079163&pid=65005240

CZ-11 launcher

Lenght: 20.8 m
Diameter: 2.0 m
Mass: 58 t
Lift off thrust: 120 t
Payload capability: 350 kg to 700 km SSO, 700 kg LEO

Capable to launch satellites in 24 hours when needed.
Designed to meet the need to rapidly launch satellites in case of emergencies or disasters.

http://scitech.people.com.cn/n/2015/0925/c1007-27634304.html

Tube launched smaller rockets are first propelled to several tens of meters with a solid charge, the rocket solid engine is then ignited. This is to avoid carving a hole under the TEL.

http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=14621&pid=381151

Possibly an export version:

Arianespace’s ability to accommodate satellite constellations of the future, many of which are envisioned to involve large numbers of very small-sized (“micro”) spacecraft. He said a “micro launcher” – capable of deploying constellation payloads of approximately 300 kg. to low Earth orbits – could be of interest as a potential addition to the company’s launch vehicle portfolio.

http://www.calt.com/ZiXunZhongXin/ZhongYaoXinWen/Detail/?ContentId=12024

http://bbs.9ifly.cn/thread-14621-1-1.html

http://slide.mil.news.sina.com.cn/k/slide_8_470_38125.html#p=6

2015/08/05

China's first solid propellant booster of 2m diameter is made of 3 assembled sections

http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/engine/SRB/2m-diameter.html

Static ground testing

Ground testing

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Looks like it did successfully launch at 01:41 UTC! :hmm:

 

[Soheil_Esy]

Part 2

Assembly

Payload fairing

Rear view of canister, first stage's nozzle visible

CZ-11 TEL

CZ-11 in launch position out of a canister -proportions fixed

Launch pad

Coordinates: 40°58'08.8"N 100°20'37.1"E

https://www.google.com/maps/place/4...3646,233m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Launch preannouncement

A2739/15 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:

N374344E0990357-N384150E0991957-N383448E1000018-N373647E0994348

BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL,

25 SEP 01:33 2015 UNTIL 25SEP 01:53 2015.

CREATED: 24 SEP 06:44 2015

http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-11/CZ11-first-launch.html

Launch

Mediatic glitch

CCTV in a 8:20 report announcing successful launch of 4 satellites

Report seems inaccurate:facepalm:
False news already spreading in the internet media:facepalm:

• 我国首枚固体火箭长征十一号成功首飞
  
• 我国首枚固体火箭长征十一号成功首飞[鼓掌]
  
• 中国首枚固体火箭长征十一号成功首飞

http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/rocket/CZ-11/CZ11-first-launch.html

2015-9-25 09:46

0943 launched

http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=14621&pid=381014

2015-9-25 10:08

Success confirmed a minute ago

http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&pid=381051&ptid=14621

24 Sep 2015

CZ-11 was successfully launched at 09:41:40 with four satellites

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/647233936658075648

It is China's overall 211th Long March rocket flight

http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2015-09/25/c_1116676523.htm

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/647238920720154625/photo/1

Third stage extinction, Pujiang-1 satellite

VIDEO

2015-9-25 17:24

When there is a new solid rocket or missile launch, whether it is KZ, CZ-11 or DF-21 follow-ups don't expect to see live video footage.

http://lt.cjdby.net/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=2078914&pid=65000113

• First video of the launch
  http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/ADe1cYaU8f4/?resourceId=0_06_02_99

• http://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10601/0ce9d9c6698140eca259f761d50843c1

Part 1 covering launch computer animation​

Part 2 covering third stage separation computer animation​

 

[Soheil_Esy]

Part 3

In orbit

Pujiang-1 (浦江一号卫星)

The initial objective of its development back in 2009, was to provide a flexible and simplified satellite platform, to allows complete integrated testing in one month, with a launch preparations of 1 week, and entering use in 1 day.

* The titanium structure of its antenna is made by 3D printing in three days
* It features a WiFi Router allowing communication network between satellites
* Depending on requirements, the platform can be adjusted in size and payloads

http://scitech.people.com.cn/n/2015/0925/c1007-27634338.html

http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/satellite/pujiang-1.html

STU-2A/C (上科大二号卫星)

STU-2 is mainly used for Polar Observations with its small optical camera. It is used for collecting naval ship informations with the Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver. It is also used for gathering aircrafts information with the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system (ADS- B) receiver.

The 3 cubesats are equipped with self-organizing network communication system. STU-2A satellite is the world's first MEMS to be equipped with cold gas micro-thruster. This will allow the satellite to perform formation flight with the other satellites and validate new in-orbit technologies.

The STU-2 satellites are also equipped with a microchip-size BEIDOU / GPS dual-mode receiver, MEMS magnetometers, multi-axis sensor, a small star tracker and other stand-alone products, promoting the development of China's Micro-nanoelectronics satellite technology.

STU-2B or NJUST-1 cubesat (南理工一号)

2015/09/25

http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/satellite/NJUST/NJUST-1.html

Satellite Size Mass
STU-2A 113mm x 114mm x 343.3mm 2.9kg
STU-2B 114mm x 114mm x 239mm 2.2kg
STU-2C 114mm x 114mm x 239mm 1.7kg

http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/satellite/STU/STU-2.html

The main goal of the SECM-1 mission is to experiment with SDR payload in space.

Three cubesats(Sat-A/TW-1A, Sat-B/TW-1B, Sat-C/TW-1C) are involved.

The main payloads are space amateur radio stations, used for exchanging TT&C with ground ham control station, and transmitting beacon and telemetry data to ground ham stations. Some other payloads are GPS/BD receiver, video camera, and AIS and ADS-B receivers.

Payloads in 3 cubesats:

Sat-A： Radios: one transceiver for TT&C, one communication payload Other Payloads: camera

Sat-B： Radios: one transceiver for TT&C, one communication payload Payloads: AIS receiver

Sat-C： Radios: one transceiver for TT&C, one communication payload Payloads: ADS-B receiver

The telemetry, beacon and the communication device signals details will be open to public for access, so the amateurs around the world may track the satellites, monitor the health of the satellites. Planning downlinks on VHF and on UHF with 57k6 GMSK and on 2.4GHZ with spread spectrum at1Mbps, based on the GAMANET protocol.

Expecting to be launched from China in September 2015 into an SSO at 481km.

More info at http://www.microsate.com/en/

http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=468

SSO 481km

http://www.chinaspaceflight.com/satellite/SECM-1/SECM-1.html


Orbital elements

40925/2015-051A,468  X  486(KM)  X  97.311°

40926/2015-051B,467  X  487(KM)  X  97.313°

40927/2015-051C,466  X  486(KM)  X  97.322°

40928/2015-051D,467  X  485(KM)  X  97.305°

First 5 TLEs published by NORAD

Two Line Element Set (TLE):

2015-051A               
1 40925U 15051A   15268.59769715 -.00000074  00000-0  00000+0 0  9994
2 40925  97.3116 304.0939 0012957 280.4101 226.4285 15.29495630    66
2015-051B               
1 40926U 15051B   15268.59726112 -.00000075  00000-0  00000+0 0  9990
2 40926  97.3138 304.0933 0015220 280.0877 224.7260 15.29682983    60
2015-051C               
1 40927U 15051C   15268.59512118 -.00000075  00000-0  00000+0 0  9990
2 40927  97.3232 304.0879 0014062 287.0469 206.4531 15.29943629    67
2015-051D               
1 40928U 15051D   15268.59410081 -.00000075  00000-0  00000+0 0  9997
2 40928  97.3040 304.0925 0013463 289.9515 198.0505 15.30018531    68
2015-051E               
1 40929U 15051E   15268.58441356  .02295278  21551-5  34635-3 0  9992
2 40929  97.3539 304.0920 0304113  41.2498 105.3359 15.72482689    86

Commemorative postcard

 

[Soheil_Esy]

Scale model of CZ-11 TEL launcher

Revealing a military launcher!

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/777883066748407808
Chinese solid-fuel CZ-11 TEL launcher, able to place 500 kg payload to SSO or 750 kg to LEO; Diameter of 2 meters, length of 20.8 meters and liftoff mass of 58 tons

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/777883066748407808
Chinese solid-fuel CZ-11 TEL launcher, able to place 500 kg payload to SSO or 750 kg to LEO; Diameter of 2 meters, length of 20.8 meters and liftoff mass of 58 tons

https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/791810600695242752
Chinese solid-fuel CZ-11 TEL launcher, able to place 500 kg payload to SSO or 750 kg to LEO; Diameter of 2 meters, length of 20.8 meters and liftoff mass of 58 tons
With military camouflage.