CZ-2F on pad - 39,514 bytes. 337 x 428 pixels.

Man-rated version of CZ-2E. Little difference externally. Modifications probably are related to improved redundancy of systems, strengthened upper stage to handle large 921-1 spacecraft fairing and launch escape tower.

LEO Payload: 8,400 kg. to: 185 km Orbit. at: 57.0 degrees. Liftoff Thrust: 604,000 kgf. Total Mass: 464,000 kg. Core Diameter: 3.4 m. Total Length: 62.0 m.

• Stage Number: 0. 4 x CZ-2E-0 Gross Mass: 41,000 kg. Empty Mass: 3,200 kg. Thrust (vac): 83,238 kgf. Isp: 291 sec. Burn time: 128 sec. Isp(sl): 261 sec. Diameter: 2.3 m. Span: 2.3 m. Length: 15.3 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 1. YF-20B

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x CZ-2E-1 Gross Mass: 196,500 kg. Empty Mass: 9,500 kg. Thrust (vac): 332,952 kgf. Isp: 289 sec. Burn time: 166 sec. Isp(sl): 261 sec. Diameter: 3.4 m. Span: 6.0 m. Length: 23.7 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 4. YF-20B

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x CZ-2E-2 Gross Mass: 91,500 kg. Empty Mass: 5,500 kg. Thrust (vac): 84,739 kgf. Isp: 298 sec. Burn time: 295 sec. Isp(sl): 260 sec. Diameter: 3.4 m. Span: 3.4 m. Length: 15.5 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 1. YF-25/23

• Shenzhou Spacecraft: Shenzhou.

  The unmanned first test flight of a prototype of the Chinese Project 921-1 spacecraft took place 49 days after the planned date of October 1, 1999. Shenzhou separated from its launch vehicle and went into orbit about ten minutes after lift-off. The spacecraft was controlled from the new Beijing Aerospace Directing and Controlling Centre. The spacecraft did not manoeuvre during the flight.

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  Chinese Manned LVs - Chinese Launch Vehicles for Manned Projects. From left: Tsien Spaceplane Launcher, 1978; Project 921 Launch Vehicle, 1992; CZ-2F, 1999; CZ-2E(A), 2000. Only the last two were put into full scale development. Credit: © Mark Wade. 21,771 bytes. 360 x 480 pixels.

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  The Yuanwang-3 tracking ship off the coast of Namibia picked up the signal at 18:49 UT, and commanded retro-fire. The spacecraft passed out of range of the tracking ship nine minutes later. Its trajectory arced over Africa, skimmed the coast of the Arabian peninsula, and then over Pakistan, before re-entering over Tibet.

  Following re-entry, the drogue chute deployed at an altitude of 30 km with the capsules soft-landing rockets firing 1.5 m above the ground. The capsule landed at 41 deg N, 105 deg E, (415 km East of its launch pad and 110 km north-west of Wuhai, Inner Mongolia), at November 20 19:41 UT. The spacecraft had completed 14 orbits of the earth 21 hours and 11 minutes.

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  CZ-2F Rollout 30,840 bytes. 328 x 444 pixels.

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• 42 - Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Second Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 1991.
• 61 - Wilson, Andrew, editor,, Jane's/Interavia Space Directory, Jane's Information Group, Coulsdon, Surrey, 1992 et al.
• 424 - Chen Lan, Dragon in Space, . HTML when accessed: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/1921/

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CZ-2F Rollout Big 51,142 bytes. 660 x 928 pixels.

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CZ-2F on pad Full 70,159 bytes. 673 x 856 pixels.

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Project 921 LV - Conceptual drawing of launch vehicle for the Project 921 manned spacecraft, produced before the CZ-2F rollout photographs appeared. The concept was quite close to the actual: a CZ-2E man-rated, with payload shroud and launch escape system. Credit: © Mark Wade. 11,000 bytes. 100 x 540 pixels.

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