CZ-3B - 7,697 bytes. 100 x 414 pixels.

The Long March 3B was the most powerful Long March launch vehicle. It could inject a 5,000 kg payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The CZ-3B was developed on the basis of the CZ-3A, but had enlarged propellant tanks, larger fairing, and four boosters strapped onto the core stage. The CZ-3B boosters were identical to those of the CZ-3A.

Launches: 5. Failures: 1. Success Rate: 80.00% pct. First Launch Date: 14 February 1996. Last Launch Date: 18 July 1998. LEO Payload: 11,200 kg. to: 200 km Orbit. at: 28.5 degrees. Payload: 5,100 kg. to a: Geosynchronous transfer trajectory. Liftoff Thrust: 304,000 kgf. Total Mass: 425,800 kg. Core Diameter: 3.4 m. Total Length: 54.8 m. Launch Price $: 70.00 million. in 1999 price dollars.

• 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-3A-1 Gross Mass: 179,000 kg. Empty Mass: 9,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 332,952 kgf. Isp: 289 sec. Burn time: 155 sec. Isp(sl): 259 sec. Diameter: 3.4 m. Span: 7.0 m. Length: 23.1 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 4. YF-20B

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x CZ-2C/SD-2 Gross Mass: 55,000 kg. Empty Mass: 5,000 kg. Thrust (vac): 77,700 kgf. Isp: 298 sec. Burn time: 190 sec. Isp(sl): 270 sec. Diameter: 3.4 m. Span: 3.4 m. Length: 10.0 m. Propellants: N2O4/UDMH No Engines: 1. YF-22A/23A

• Stage Number: 3. 1 x CZ-3A-3 Gross Mass: 21,000 kg. Empty Mass: 2,800 kg. Thrust (vac): 16,000 kgf. Isp: 440 sec. Burn time: 470 sec. Diameter: 3.0 m. Span: 3.0 m. Length: 12.4 m. Propellants: Lox/LH2 No Engines: 2. YF-75

• Intelsat 708 Spacecraft: FS-1300.

• Agila 2 Spacecraft: FS-1300. Payload: Mabuhay.

  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 146.0E

• Apstar 2R Spacecraft: FS-1300.

  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 76.5E

• Zhongwei 1 Spacecraft: AS 2100.

  Also known as Chinastar 1; comsat to serve China, India, Korea and Southeast Asia with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. Operated by the China Orient Telecommunications Satellite Company, part of the Chinese telecommunications ministry. Zhongwei 1 and the CZ-3B's final liquid hydrogen upper stage were placed in an initial supersynchronous 216 x 85,035 km x 24.4 deg transfer orbit. Geostationary at 87.6 degrees E.

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  LM-3B Cutaway - Cutaway view of LM-3B launch vehicle. 16,384 bytes. 144 x 523 pixels.

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• Sinosat Spacecraft: Spacebus 3000 . Mass: 2,820 kg.

  The CZ-3B's liquid hydrogen upper stage and the Sinosat were placed in a 609 x 35958 km x 19.0 deg geostationary transfer orbit at 09:45 GMT. The first two liquid apogee burns were carried out on July 19 and 21. Sinosat, Alcatel Spacebus 3000, was built in Cannes and owned temporarily by EurasSpace, a joint venture between Daimler-Benz Aerospace and the China Aerospace Corporation. After on-orbit testing it was delivered to the Sino Satellite Communications Company of Shanghai for communications services in China. Geostationary at 110.5 degrees 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.

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CZ-3B failure 3,375 bytes. 150 x 104 pixels.

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