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Xihe (CHASE)

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Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Heliophysics

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Launch Complex 9 Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Xihe, also known as the Chinese Hα Solar Explorer (CHASE), is designed to test a newly developed satellite platform and conduct solar observations. The scientific payload of the satellite is an Hα imaging spectrograph (HIS), which can, for the first time, acquire full-disk spectroscopic solar observations in the Hα waveband. It will complement the observations by on-orbit solar spacecraft (such as SDO, IRIS, STEREO and PSP), as well as future solar missions of the Solar Orbiter and the Chinese Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S). Mission is named Xihe after a solar deity from Chinese mythology.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • Oct. 14, 2021, 11:23 a.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • Oct. 12, 2021, 10:10 a.m.

Added launch per NOTAMs and public reports - note high uncertainty of assigning payload/rocket with the specific launch notice.


Long March 2D

Family:
Configuration: D

The Long March 2D, also known as the Chang Zheng 2D, CZ-2D and LM-2D, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is a 2-stage carrier rocket mainly used for launching LEO and SSO satellites.

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    1
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    38.3 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    232.0 T
  • Thrust
    2962.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 2D
  • Family
  • Variant
    D
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 2D
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $30000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    3500.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    1300.0 kg

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 560 Failures: 15 Pending: 10

Agency Type:

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

INFO WIKI

Related News

China launches orbiting solar observatory

China launches hydrogen-alpha solar telescope aboard Long March 2D

SpaceNews

China launches first solar observatory, tests grid fins

China carried out its 37th orbital launch of the year Thursday, successfully sending the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer and 10 other satellites into orbit.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

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