Long March 5 rocket family
Encyclopedia
Long March 5 is a Chinese
next-generation heavy lift launch system
that is currently under development by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
(CALT). Currently, six CZ-5 vehicle configurations are planned for different missions, with a maximum payload capacity of 25,000 kg to LEO
and 14,000 kg to GTO
. The Long March 5 will have the second largest "carrying capacity factor" of any rocket after Boeing's Delta IV Heavy
. The CZ-5 rocket is due to be first launched in 2014 from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
on Hainan
island.
and GTO
missions for the next 20–30 years. The CZ-5 project was initially announced in February 2001, with initial development slated to begin in 2002 and the first versions of the vehicle to go into service by 2008. However, funding was only finally granted in 2007 as revealed by the developers during the Northeast China
exhibition.
On October 30, 2007, construction for the CZ-5 production plant began near the Binhai New Area
in Tianjin
city. Building a completely new production facility that is close to the harbor
will solve logistical problems associated with over-land transport of the large-sized rocket to launching centers. Instead, the rockets will be transported by sea from Tianjin to a new launch facility at Wenchang
on Hainan
Island. The new production facility would have an area totaling more than half a million square meters at the cost of RMB
4500 million (USD 650 million), with the first stage of the construction scheduled to be completed by 2009. The maiden launch of the CZ-5 rocket is not expected until 2014 because the launch facility will not be completed until 2012. When the production facility is completed in 2012, it would be capable of a maximum output of thirty CZ-5s annually. , development of the 1,200 kN thrust LOX
/kerosene
engines has already been completed.
: 1,200 kN thrust LOX
/kerosene
engines or 500 kN thrust LOX/LH2 engines on first stage and boosters. The upper stage would use improved version of YF-75
engines.
Engine development began in 2000–2001, with testing directed by the China National Space Administration
(CNSA) commencing in 2005. Versions of both new engines: YF-100
and YF-77
had been successfully tested by mid-2007.
The CZ-5 series will deliver 1.5 tonnes to 25 tonnes payload to LEO, or 1.5 tonnes to 14 tonnes payload to GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit). This would replace the CZ-2, CZ-3, and CZ-4 series in service, as well as providing new capabilities not possessed by current Long March rocket
family. The heaviest configuration of the CZ-5 would consist of a 5.0-m diameter core stage and four 3.35-m diameter strap-on boosters, which would be able to send a 25 tonnes payload to low earth orbit (LEO).
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
next-generation heavy lift launch system
Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle
A Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle, or HLLV, is a launch vehicle capable of lifting more mass into Low Earth Orbit than Medium Lift or Mid-Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles.There is no universally accepted capability requirements for heavy-lift launch vehicles....
that is currently under development by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology is the premier space launch vehicle manufacturer in China and one of the major launch service providers in the world. CALT is a subordinate of the larger China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation...
(CALT). Currently, six CZ-5 vehicle configurations are planned for different missions, with a maximum payload capacity of 25,000 kg to LEO
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
and 14,000 kg to GTO
Geostationary transfer orbit
A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit....
. The Long March 5 will have the second largest "carrying capacity factor" of any rocket after Boeing's Delta IV Heavy
Delta IV Heavy
The Delta IV Heavy is expendable rocket, the largest type of the Delta IV family.It is similar to the Medium+ , except that it uses two additional CBCs instead of using GEMs. These are strap-on boosters which are separated earlier in the flight than the center CBC. The Delta IV Heavy also features...
. The CZ-5 rocket is due to be first launched in 2014 from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center , located near Wenchang on the north-east coast of Hainan Island, is a former sub-orbital test center currently under upgrade. It is the fourth and southernmost space vehicle launch facility of the People's Republic of China...
on Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
island.
Development
The Chief Designer for the CZ-5 rocket was Long Lehao. The main objective for the CZ-5 rocket was to fulfill China's requirement for large payload to LEOLow Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
and GTO
Geostationary transfer orbit
A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit....
missions for the next 20–30 years. The CZ-5 project was initially announced in February 2001, with initial development slated to begin in 2002 and the first versions of the vehicle to go into service by 2008. However, funding was only finally granted in 2007 as revealed by the developers during the Northeast China
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
exhibition.
On October 30, 2007, construction for the CZ-5 production plant began near the Binhai New Area
Binhai New Area
Binhai New Area ，short for Binhai is a major economic development zone within the jurisdiction of Tianjin municipality in China. Binhai New Area locates on the east coast of Tianjin and center of Circum-Bohai-Sea Region.Binhai New Area is a new growth pole in china, and maintain an annual growth...
in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
city. Building a completely new production facility that is close to the harbor
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
will solve logistical problems associated with over-land transport of the large-sized rocket to launching centers. Instead, the rockets will be transported by sea from Tianjin to a new launch facility at Wenchang
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
Wenchang Satellite Launch Center , located near Wenchang on the north-east coast of Hainan Island, is a former sub-orbital test center currently under upgrade. It is the fourth and southernmost space vehicle launch facility of the People's Republic of China...
on Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
Island. The new production facility would have an area totaling more than half a million square meters at the cost of RMB
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
4500 million (USD 650 million), with the first stage of the construction scheduled to be completed by 2009. The maiden launch of the CZ-5 rocket is not expected until 2014 because the launch facility will not be completed until 2012. When the production facility is completed in 2012, it would be capable of a maximum output of thirty CZ-5s annually. , development of the 1,200 kN thrust LOX
Liquid oxygen
Liquid oxygen — abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries — is one of the physical forms of elemental oxygen.-Physical properties:...
/kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
engines has already been completed.
Design
The chief designer of CZ-5 is Mr. Li Dong of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) . The CZ-5 family will include three primary modular core stages of 5.2-m diameter (maximum). The total length is 60.5 meters and the weight at launch is 643 tons, with a thrust of 833.8 tons. Boosters of various capabilities with diameters ranging from 2.25 meters and 3.35 meters would be assembled from three modular core stages and strap-on stages. There would be a choice of engines with different liquid rocket propellantsLiquid rocket propellants
The highest specific impulse chemical rockets use liquid propellants. This type of propellant has a long history going back to the first rockets and is still in use, for example in the Space Shuttle and Ariane 5.-Early development:...
: 1,200 kN thrust LOX
Liquid oxygen
Liquid oxygen — abbreviated LOx, LOX or Lox in the aerospace, submarine and gas industries — is one of the physical forms of elemental oxygen.-Physical properties:...
/kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
engines or 500 kN thrust LOX/LH2 engines on first stage and boosters. The upper stage would use improved version of YF-75
YF-75
The YF-75 is China's second generation of cryogenic gimballed engine, using liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. Its development began in the early 1990s and its first flight was in 1994.- Specifications :*Vacuum thrust: 78.45 kN...
engines.
Engine development began in 2000–2001, with testing directed by the China National Space Administration
China National Space Administration
The China National Space Administration is the national space agency of the People's Republic of China responsible for the national space program. It is responsible for planning and development of space activities...
(CNSA) commencing in 2005. Versions of both new engines: YF-100
YF-100
The YF-100 is currently China's most powerful LOX & kerosene rocket engine. Development began in the 2000s, with testing directed by the China National Space Administration commencing in 2005...
and YF-77
YF-77
The YF-77 is currently China's most powerful cryogenic rocket engine using liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer. Engine development began in the 2000s, with testing directed by the China National Space Administration commencing in 2005...
had been successfully tested by mid-2007.
The CZ-5 series will deliver 1.5 tonnes to 25 tonnes payload to LEO, or 1.5 tonnes to 14 tonnes payload to GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit). This would replace the CZ-2, CZ-3, and CZ-4 series in service, as well as providing new capabilities not possessed by current 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. The heaviest configuration of the CZ-5 would consist of a 5.0-m diameter core stage and four 3.35-m diameter strap-on boosters, which would be able to send a 25 tonnes payload to low earth orbit (LEO).
Specifications
| Version | CZ-5-200 | CZ-5-320 | CZ-5-504 | CZ-5-522 | CZ-5-540 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boosters | -- | 2xCZ-5-200, YF-120t | 4xCZ-5-300, YF-120t | 2xCZ-5-200 2xCZ-5-300, YF-120t | 4xCZ-5-200, YF-120t |
| First stage | CZ-5-200, YF-120t | CZ-5-300, YF-120t | CZ-5-500, 2xYF-50t | CZ-5-500, 2xYF-50t | CZ-5-500, 2xYF-50t |
| Second stage | CZ-YF-73, YF-73 | CZ-5-KO, | CZ-5-HO, 2xYF-75 | CZ-5-HO, 2xYF-75 | CZ-5-HO, 2xYF-75 |
| Third stage (not used for LEO Low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km... ) |
-- | CZ-5-HO, YF-75 | -- | -- | -- |
| Thrust (at ground) | 134 Mgf (1.34 MN) | 720 Mgf (7.2 MN) | 1064 Mgf (10.64 MN) | 824 Mgf (8.24 MN) | 584 Mgf (5.84 MN) |
| Launch weight | 82 t | 420 t | 800 t | 630 t | 470 t |
| Height (maximal) | 33 m | 55 m | 62 m | 58 m | 53 m |
| Payload (LEO Low Earth orbit A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km... 200 km) |
1.5 t | 10 t | 25 t | 20 t | 10 t |
| Payload (GTO Geostationary transfer orbit A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit is a Hohmann transfer orbit used to reach geosynchronous or geostationary orbit.... ) |
-- | 6 t | 14 t | 11 t | 6 t |
Comparable Rockets
- Delta IV HeavyDelta IV rocketDelta IV is an active expendable launch system in the Delta rocket family. Delta IV uses rockets designed by Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems division and built in the United Launch Alliance facility in Decatur, Alabama. Final assembly is completed at the launch site by ULA...
- Atlas V Heavy
- Ariane 5Ariane 5Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
- Angara A5
- ProtonProton rocketProton is an expendable launch system used for both commercial and Russian government space launches. The first Proton rocket was launched in 1965 and the launch system is still in use as of 2011, which makes it one of the most successful heavy boosters in the history of spaceflight...
- Falcon 9 Heavy