Kaituozhe-1
Encyclopedia
The Kaituozhe-1 or (Explorer-1 in English) is a Chinese
commercial launch vehicle. Small and solid-fueled, its design was based on the road mobile DF-31
ICBM with an additional upper stage. The vehicle has performed two flights, the first in September 2002 and the second exactly one year later. The first flight failed to place a 50 kg satellite
into polar orbit due to a second stage malfunction. The second flight was more successful, with Chinese officials declaring that guidance systems, fairing separation and satellite-launcher separation met "R&D standard." The launch vehicle is a member of the Long March rocket
family and was manufactured by Space Solid Fuel Carrier Co.
The launch vehicle used during a 2007 ASAT
was speculated to be the KT-409, a derivative of the KT-1.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
commercial launch vehicle. Small and solid-fueled, its design was based on the road mobile DF-31
DF-31
The Dong Feng 31 is a long-range, road-mobile, three stage, solid propellant intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dongfeng missile series developed by the People's Republic of China. It is designed to carry a single 1,000kt thermal nuclear warhead. It is a land-based variant of the submarine...
ICBM with an additional upper stage. The vehicle has performed two flights, the first in September 2002 and the second exactly one year later. The first flight failed to place a 50 kg satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
into polar orbit due to a second stage malfunction. The second flight was more successful, with Chinese officials declaring that guidance systems, fairing separation and satellite-launcher separation met "R&D standard." The launch vehicle is a member of the Long March rocket
Long March rocket
A Long March rocket or Chang Zheng rocket as in Chinese pinyin is any rocket in a family of expendable launch systems operated by the People's Republic of China. Development and design falls under the auspices of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology...
family and was manufactured by Space Solid Fuel Carrier Co.
The launch vehicle used during a 2007 ASAT
ASAT
ASAT can mean:* Anti-satellite weapon* The ASM-135 ASAT, an air-launched anti-satellite multi stage missile* aspartate transaminase, an enzyme in amino acid metabolism*Advanced Subsonic Aerial Target A UAV used by the British Army for AA training....
was speculated to be the KT-409, a derivative of the KT-1.