Chinese Reusable Space Vehicle

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Government/Top Secret

Low Earth Orbit Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921) Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Note: Launch time is approximated. Probable 3rd flight of the Chinese spaceplane capable of returning to Earth, which flew in orbit September 4 - 6, 2020 and August 4, 2022 - May 8, 2023.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • Dec. 15, 2023, 1:46 a.m.

Tweaked T-0 based on orbit estimations.


Cosmic_Penguin • Dec. 14, 2023, 2:46 p.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • Dec. 11, 2023, 10:28 a.m.

Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload and launch vehicle identities extremely uncertain.


Long March 2F/G

Family:
Configuration: F/G

The Long March 2F is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket, part of the Long March 2 rocket family. Designed to launch the crewed Shenzhou spacecraft, the Long March 2F is a human-rated two-stage version of the Long March 2E rocket, which in turn was based on the Long March 2C launch vehicle. It is launched from complex SLS at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March 2F/G version includes longer boosters for increased lift capability, among other improvements.

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    62.0 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    464.0 T
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Long March 2F/G
  • Family
  • Variant
    F/G
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 2F/G
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    8399.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

Chinese Reusable Space Vehicle


Active Cargo Unmanned
Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Serial Number: None

First Chinese reusable spacecraft, apparently a spaceplane with wings per a photo taken by a US satellite. No public information of it is available. Its official name is "Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi", meaning "Reusable Experimental Spacecraft". Note: It is unknown how many flight vehicles have been built and flown.

Chinese Reusable Space Vehicle Details

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 596 Failures: 16 Pending: 8

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
SpaceNews

China’s secretive reusable spaceplane lands after 267 days in orbit

HELSINKI — China’s experimental reusable spaceplane returned to Earth late Thursday, completing its third orbital mission. State media Xinhua issued a brief report on Sept. 5 (Eastern), confirming the spacecraft’s […]

The Launch Pad

China Tests Proximity Operations with Experimental Spaceplane

China Tests Proximity Operations with Experimental Spaceplane

SpaceNews

China’s secretive spaceplane conducts proximity operations with small spacecraft

China’s experimental reusable spaceplane has been using a smaller spacecraft to test proximity operations, potentially even capturing the object.

The Launch Pad

China’s Experimental Reusable Spacecraft Releases Unknown Object Into Orbit During 3rd Mission

China’s Experimental Reusable Spacecraft Releases Unknown Object Into Orbit During 3rd Mission

SpaceNews

China’s secretive spaceplane releases object into orbit

China’s experimental reusable spacecraft has released an unknown object into orbit while conducting its third mission.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921)


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5 days, 18 hours ago
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5 days, 21 hours ago
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Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

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Pallas-1
Success
1 week ago
Demo Flight
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First test launch of Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 rocket, with a dummy payload on board.


Falcon Heavy
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
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Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

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1 week, 4 days ago
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Third of EUMETSAT's third generation of weather satellite.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 5 days ago
Starlink Group 15-22
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 6 days ago
Starlink Group 10-49
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.