CZ-3 - 12,041 bytes. 128 x 443 pixels.

The Long March 3 was a three-stage launch vehicle designed for delivery of satellites of 1,500 kg mass into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The first and second stages were based on the CZ-2C, and designed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. The majority of the technology and flight hardware used in the CZ-3 had been qualified and proven on the CZ-2C. The third stage, manufactured by CALT, was equipped with an LOX/LH2 cryogenic engine. Long March 3 was also capable of placing spacecraft into an elliptical or circular low earth orbit and sun synchronous orbit.

Launches: 13. Failures: 2. Success Rate: 84.62% pct. First Launch Date: 29 January 1984. Last Launch Date: 25 June 2000. LEO Payload: 4,800 kg. to: 200 km Orbit. at: 28.5 degrees. Payload: 1,500 kg. to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 302,000 kgf. Total Mass: 204,000 kg. Core Diameter: 3.4 m. Total Length: 44.6 m. Launch Price $: 40.00 million. in 1999 price dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x CZ-3-1 Gross Mass: 151,000 kg. Empty Mass: 9,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 306,000 kgf. Isp: 289 sec. Burn time: 132 sec. Isp(sl): 259 sec. Diameter: 3.4 m. Span: 6.0 m. Length: 20.2 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 4. YF-20A

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x CZ-3-2 Gross Mass: 39,000 kg. Empty Mass: 4,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 77,700 kgf. Isp: 295 sec. Burn time: 130 sec. Isp(sl): 270 sec. Diameter: 3.4 m. Span: 3.4 m. Length: 9.7 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 1. YF-22A/23A

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x CZ-3-3 Gross Mass: 10,500 kg. Empty Mass: 2,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 4,500 kgf. Isp: 425 sec. Burn time: 800 sec. Diameter: 2.3 m. Span: 2.3 m. Length: 7.5 m. Propellants: Lox/LH2 No Engines: 4. YF-73

• China 14 Spacecraft: STTW. Payload: STTW-T1. Mass: 900 kg.

  Payload stranded in LEO.

• China 15 Spacecraft: STTW. Payload: STTW-T2. Mass: 900 kg.

  Stationed at 125 deg E; experimental communications.

• China 18 Spacecraft: STTW. Payload: STTW 1.

  Stationed at 103 deg E.

• China 22 Spacecraft: STTW. Payload: STTW 2. Mass: 900 kg.

  Shiyong Tongbu Tongxin Weixing; 88 deg E.

• China 25 Spacecraft: STTW. Payload: STTW 3. Mass: 900 kg.

  Stationed at 110 deg E.

• China 26 Spacecraft: STTW. Payload: STTW 4. Mass: 1,024 kg.

  Shiyang Tongbu Tonxin Weixing; 98.5 deg E. National operational communications satellite. Designation 1990-2.

• Asiasat 1 Spacecraft: HS 376. Mass: 1,442 kg.

  First commercial Chinese launch; Stationed at 105 deg E; formerly Westar 6 (retrieved by STS-51A and refurbished). Fixed-satellite telecommunication services and transmission of television signals. Operational life about 10 years. Orbital position 105.5E. Owner/operator: Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co, Ltd. 23-24/F, East Exchange Tower, 38-40 Leighton Rd, Hong K ong. Telex 68345 ASAT HX Fax 852 576 4111.

• China 34 Spacecraft: STTW. Payload: STTW 5. Mass: 1,025 kg.

  Third stage failure; unusable orbit. Operational communications.

• Apstar 1 Spacecraft: HS 376. Mass: 1,383 kg.

  Asia-Pacific communications. Stationed at 137.97 deg E.

• Apstar 1A Spacecraft: HS 376. Mass: 2,800 kg.

  24 C-band transponders; Geostationary at 133.9E.

• Zhongxing 7 Spacecraft: HS 376. Payload: Zhongxing 7.

• FY-2B Spacecraft: FY-2. Payload: Fengyun 2B.

  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 104.6E

• Fengyun-2 Spacecraft: Fengyun.

  Second Fengyun-2 weather satellite, replacing the first FY-2 (retired in April after a three year service life). The spin-stabilised FY-2 fired its solid apogee motor early on Jun 26. By July 3, it was in a 35,791 x 35,804 km x 1.1 deg orbit drifting over the Pacific. Stationed at 104 deg E.

• 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.