Gaofen-14 - CZ-3B/G5 - Xichang - December 6, 2020 (03:58 UTC)

[Alter Sachse]

Flight path

https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=18607.msg2084838#msg2084838

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1335397038150864896

It's launch day in China.

[Steven Pietrobon]

SFF page.

http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/event/long-march-3b-rocket-launch-gaofen-14-satellite?instance_id=3962

9ifly thread.

https://9ifly.spacety.com/thread-93996-17-1.html

[Steven Pietrobon]

Prelaunch image.

https://www.weibo.com/5616492130/Jxbt9t5mv

[Steven Pietrobon]

Launch should be happening about now.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Launch!

https://9ifly.spacety.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=93996&pid=783450

[Steven Pietrobon]

Report of launch at 03:58 UTC.

"Departure time 1158"

https://9ifly.spacety.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=93996&pid=783451

[Steven Pietrobon]

Another image.

https://9ifly.spacety.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=93996&pid=783453

[Steven Pietrobon]

Confirmation of launch time.

"China Aerospace
10 seconds ago
On December 6th, at about 11:58, China launched the high-score 14 satellite with the Long March III B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center"

https://9ifly.spacety.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=93996&pid=783461

[Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25]

Launch video taken from the ground:
https://weibo.com/5616492130/JxbW7dKnL

[Steven Pietrobon]

Launch video.

https://www.weibo.com/5616492130/JxbW7dKnL

[Steven Pietrobon]

Mission success!

"At 11:58 today, China successfully launched the High Score 14 satellite into orbit with the Long March III B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. High-score 14 satellite can efficiently obtain high-precision stereoscopic images from all over the world, measure large-scale digital topographic maps, and produce digital elevation models, digital surface models and digital orthographic image maps. (CCTV News) "

https://www.weibo.com/5616492130/Jxc1xtPLk

[Steven Pietrobon]

Preparation and launch images.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/XWZKFeYEFddXZ19hd4C2Yg

"This is the first launch of the Long March III B-5 carrier rocket (hereinafter referred to as the "Long Three B-5 Rocket") and the first launch of the Solar Synchronous Orbital Satellite by the Long March III A-Series carrier rocket."
...
"The launch of the long three-B improved rocket, in the long three-a series of rockets unified configuration of the overall design framework, compared to the long three-B/ Expedition one rocket using 4.2 meters with the diameter of the longer version of the rectiter, the state of the rocket is about 58 meters long, the total arrow take-off mass of about 456 tons."

[Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25]

Launch Video
https://weibo.com/3922221653/Jxc4YfcY3

[Steven Pietrobon]

More launch preparation images. Vehicle is using new launch software.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Sx0EDUXD-bXQjY_PU1oO4A

"In order to complete the new launch mission of this long three-A series of rockets and take into account the follow-up development, this long-three-B improved rocket adopts 12 first-flight technologies, such as all-round take-off and roll-forward launch, active load reduction based on control system information, which further enhances the high adaptability level of the rocket and has made a new exploration for the future development and evolution of intelligent rocket.

Specifically, the rocket is equipped with a brand-new flight control software, the control system uses the full four-way control scheme, iterative guidance control, first-level cross-law guide guidance control, two-way wind compensation and active load reduction control technology, all-round take-off and roll-over and other 5 technologies, and combined with intelligent algorithm - position control engine on-line fault identification and control reconstruction, will provide a "packed" solution for launch vehicle flight control.

It is understood that the new flight control software in the first stage of the rocket to add cross-law guide control, can improve the booster and core first-level drop point accuracy control capabilities. For example, the booster may be affected by wind after separation, deviating from a pre-designed path, and the new software can add guidance to the booster and guide it within the drop zone.

In addition, the rocket for the first time applied a full range of take-off and roll technology, can achieve a full range of launch. The technology can achieve flight control of any axon angle under the condition of a single initial aiming angle.

The launch was the first low-orbit launch of a series of Changssal A rockets. Generally speaking, the location of Xichang Satellite Launch Center is more suitable for east-southeast launch, if launched southwards, the range of options available in the drop-off area will be greatly reduced, and the impact of high-altitude winds on rockets will be enhanced.

To this end, the team designed 4 orbits, pre-launch according to the actual forecast of high-altitude wind to choose different programs, and carried out a large number of calculations and simulations, for 4 tracks respectively set up the drop zone scheme, and finally drew a range box, to achieve the four orbits of the fall zone range consistent, reduce the difficulty of evacuation of falling area personnel, and combined with the corresponding control technology to solve the drop zone security problems.

The demonstration work of the long three-two-to-five rocket program was started in 2016, and lasted nearly 5 years from the demonstration of the program to the initial sample and the development of the sample. In the meantime, the Changsan B rocket implemented a total of 46 launches, an average of 9 launches per year, the successful first flight of the modified five rockets also for the Changsan B rocket to complete the full year's mission, "13th Five-Year Plan" officials drew a successful conclusion."

[Steven Pietrobon]

Launch Video
https://weibo.com/3922221653/Jxc4YfcY3

Some screen grabs.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Success banner.

https://9ifly.spacety.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=93996&pid=783487

[Galactic Penguin SST]

GF-14 is officially described as an optical 3D surveying and cartography satellite that is capable of creating large scale 3-dimensional digital images and mapping products.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Fairing images.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/dCLrAZzES4HQYkNraObeug

"There are two major changes to the Changs san B rocket

The shroud is 900 mm higher

Perform a low-orbit launch mission for the first time"
...
"To this end, the rocket control system software part has made a lot of changes, flight software code re-written about 30%, including the first flight segment increased guidance control, the whole use of "4 yuan" attitude control, the third stage used iterative guidance control, etc., the purpose is to adapt to the changes in the launch orbit. The launch means that the Long Three-B rocket has both high and low-orbit launch capability, which improves the orbital adaptability of the Long-Three-B rocket."

[Chris Bergin]

Rui's article:

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1335447936155717638