LKW-1 - CZ-2D - JSLC, LC43/603 - December 3, 2017 (04:11 UTC)

[SmallKing]

CCTV just reported launch crews in JSLC were preparing for the next launch of CZ-2D. Could it be Jilin-2?

EDIT: original source http://weibo.com/6005843218/FrnoE5ImN?type=comment#_rnd1508562211550

[Satori]

Looks like the launch could take place in the next days (?)

[SmallKing]

Looks like the launch could take place in the next days (?)

This CZ-2D arrived at JSLC on Oct. 16, so the launch date is definitely in November

[Moon Rabbit]

There are two CZ-2Ds being preparing for launch in JSLC

These rockets arrived at JSLC on Oct. 16
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9Ho0gVfPyDC9y0DUPtK2ww

They do this each time rockets arrive at the railway station?

[SmallKing]

There are two CZ-2Ds being preparing for launch in JSLC

These rockets arrived at JSLC on Oct. 16
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9Ho0gVfPyDC9y0DUPtK2ww

They do this each time rockets arrive at the railway station?

It should be

[chewi]

Maybe for this launch?

Andrew Jones‏ @AJ_FI · 35 minutes ago

Next duo of Chinese Gaojing (Superview) commercial EO satellites to launch in December, a year after the first couple.

ChinaSpaceflight‏ @cnspaceflight
【高景一号03/04星】四维世景公司的乔亦实。两颗卫星将于今年12月底发射。

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Maybe for this launch?

Andrew Jones‏ @AJ_FI · 35 minutes ago

Next duo of Chinese Gaojing (Superview) commercial EO satellites to launch in December, a year after the first couple.

ChinaSpaceflight‏ @cnspaceflight
【高景一号03/04星】四维世景公司的乔亦实。两颗卫星将于今年12月底发射。

One of the CZ-2D at Jiuquan might be for the GJ-1 pair,
but with a launch date of late December I am sure that another one will fly before it (and remember the last two flew from Taiyuan!), so no.

[SmallKing]

Confirmed it's a black bird manufactured by CAST
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=90035&mobile=no

[zubenelgenubi]

Confirmed it's a black bird manufactured by CAST
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=90035&mobile=no

Examining the launch history, the only Yaogan/Jianbing payloads launched on a CZ-2D from Jiuquan are the JB-6 optical reconnaissance/remote sensing satellites: YG-2, 4, 7, 11, 24, and 30.

Gunter's Space Page http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/yaogan-2.htm lists these as manufactured by CAST.

[Satori]

Launch will take place around 0842UTC according to 9ifly Chinese space forum.

[zubenelgenubi]

Launch will take place around 0842UTC according to 9ifly Chinese space forum.

Here's a chain of deduction...

Given the above information, and if YG-31 is the newest spacecraft in the JB-6 program:
Then this launch into SSO would launch at the same time UTC, to the minute, as YG-7, the 3rd member of the JB-6 program.  (Also, a near match in launch dates--YG-7, December 9; YG-31, December 2)

And, therefore, would not YG-31 enter a similar SSO orbit with the same initial LTDN as YG-7?
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Yaogan/Yaoganprog.php

Is YG-31 meant to replace YG-7, or augment its capabilities?

[Liss]

I do not believe YG-24 and YG-30 (and GF-9 too) are members of the JB-6 series.

[Phillip Clark]

I do not believe YG-24 and YG-30 (and GF-9 too) are members of the JB-6 series.

A Jianbing-6 follow-on series.

[Satori]

I do not believe YG-24 and YG-30 (and GF-9 too) are members of the JB-6 series.

From what series do you think they are, Liss?

[Skyrocket]

I do not believe YG-24 and YG-30 (and GF-9 too) are members of the JB-6 series.

A Jianbing-6 follow-on series.

It is hard to see, if there is a difference between the JB-6 and a JB-6 follow-on series: Same launch vehicle, same fairing, same launch site and same orbit.

[Liss]

I do not believe YG-24 and YG-30 (and GF-9 too) are members of the JB-6 series.

A Jianbing-6 follow-on series.

It is hard to see, if there is a difference between the JB-6 and a JB-6 follow-on series: Same launch vehicle, same fairing, same launch site and same orbit.

I know. There were multiple arguments for the new type:
(1) Four years interval before YG-24 against three years life expectancy of JB-6;
(2) A Chinese report on cameras test on YG-24 which is logical for a new design;
(3) Chief designer/administrator name for YG-24/GF-9/YG-30 was published but not for any of JB-6;
(4) Ground resolution of 2 meters for JB-6 and sub-meter for YG-24.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Not sure if this is related to this launch, if so this won't fly until December 3:

A3661/17 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:N330743E0981215-N331228E0974709-N340515E0980115-N340028E0982635 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 03 DEC 04:04 2017 UNTIL 03 DEC 04:32 2017. CREATED: 01 DEC 06:33 2017

Note that there is another notice (A3662/17) with the exact same words except for listing the effective date as 23 December! I guess this one is a fluke? 

[chewi]

Also this one for Dec 3:

A3663/17 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED
BY:N350925E0984346-N351301E0982430-N354201E0983231-N353712E0985821
BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 03 DEC 04:03 2017 UNTIL 03
DEC 04:26 2017. CREATED: 01 DEC 06:35 2017

[SmallKing]

A 9ifly member who had good source said this sat would be the most powerful optical bird launched by Chinese, or a home made KH11
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=90035&extra=&page=3&mobile=0

[input~2]

<sup>A3661/17 -  A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:N330743E0981215-N331228E0974709-N340515E0980115-N340028E0982635 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 03 DEC 04:04 2017 UNTIL 03 DEC 04:32 2017. CREATED: 01 DEC 06:33 2017

A3663/17 -  A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:N350925E0984346-N351301E0982430-N354201E0983231-N353712E0985821 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 03 DEC 04:03 2017 UNTIL 03 DEC 04:26 2017. CREATED: 01 DEC 06:35 2017</sup>

These two NOTAMed areas (in purple below) appear to be close to those for Shiyan-5 launch with CZ-2D on Nov 25, 2013 (in red below)

[input~2]

Launch code could be "01-84"

[zubenelgenubi]

<sup>A3661/17 -  A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:N330743E0981215-N331228E0974709-N340515E0980115-N340028E0982635 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 03 DEC 04:04 2017 UNTIL 03 DEC 04:32 2017. CREATED: 01 DEC 06:33 2017

A3663/17 -  A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:N350925E0984346-N351301E0982430-N354201E0983231-N353712E0985821 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 03 DEC 04:03 2017 UNTIL 03 DEC 04:26 2017. CREATED: 01 DEC 06:35 2017</sup>

These two NOTAMed areas (in purple below) appear to be close to those for Shiyan-5 launch with CZ-2D on Nov 25, 2013 (in red below)

Drop zones for the first stage and payload fairing, consecutively?

[input~2]

According to Chinese forums the payload will be known as "陆地资源勘查卫星星座01星"
Pinyin: Lùdì zīyuán kānchá wèixīng xīngzuò 01 xīng
which translates as: Land resource exploration satellite constellation, satellite#1

[input~2]

Drop zones for the first stage and payload fairing, consecutively?

Yep!

[zubenelgenubi]

I do not believe YG-24 and YG-30 (and GF-9 too) are members of the JB-6 series.

A Jianbing-6 follow-on series.

It is hard to see, if there is a difference between the JB-6 and a JB-6 follow-on series: Same launch vehicle, same fairing, same launch site and same orbit.

I know. There were multiple arguments for the new type:
(1) Four years interval before YG-24 against three years life expectancy of JB-6;
(2) A Chinese report on cameras test on YG-24 which is logical for a new design;
(3) Chief designer/administrator name for YG-24/GF-9/YG-30 was published but not for any of JB-6;
(4) Ground resolution of 2 meters for JB-6 and sub-meter for YG-24.

A 9ifly member who had good source said this sat would be the most powerful optical bird launched by Chinese, or a home made KH11
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=90035&extra=&page=3&mobile=0

Please let me re-state to understand:
The hypothesis is that YG-24, GF-9, and YG-30 are members of a JB-(# unknown) series of optical reconnaissance satellites, a follow-on to JB-6.
***

Are we seeing, in the newest data being revealed about this launch, that this satellite (or satellites?) could be different from the hypothesized YG-24/GF-9/YG-30 series?
***

My semi-educated impression is that KH-11 level resolution requires a satellite carrying a telescope of a size too large and mass too massive to launch on a CZ-2D.  Would a Worldview-class satellite with resolution of 0.3 or 0.2 meters be a more reasonable fit?  Is the KH-11 reference hyperbole?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

According to Chinese forums the payload will be known as "陆地资源勘查卫星星座01星"
Pinyin: Lùdì zīyuán kānchá wèixīng xīngzuò 01 xīng
which translates as: Land resource exploration satellite constellation, satellite#1

Note that this is only a rumor (although it's, well, just a cover name anyway.  ). In this case the name can be shortened to LZK-01 (or LZKW-01) in the same manner as the TJS series.

A 9ifly member who had good source said this sat would be the most powerful optical bird launched by Chinese, or a home made KH11
http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=90035&extra=&page=3&mobile=0

This is actually ambiguous because the same member said that there will be another launch - from Taiyuan - that will follw this one very soon, and this sentence can refer to either of them!

[input~2]

Portions of airways overflying 1st stage and fairing drop zones will be closed between 04:00 and 04:30 UTC

A3672/17 -  THE FLW SEGMENTS OF ATS RTE CLSD: 1.Y2:MEPEP -LUVAR. 2.L888:LUVAR-MUMAN. 3.Y1:MEPEP - N3507.6E10005.6. 03 DEC 04:00 2017 UNTIL 03 DEC 04:30 2017. CREATED: 02 DEC 15:08 2017

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Apparently launch has occurred.

[GELORD]

Luftoff!!!

[Chris Bergin]

Rui's article!
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/long-march-2d-lofts-latest-yaogan-weixing/

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch success has been confirmed - liftoff was at 04:11 UTC.

The satellite has a shorter public name than rumored - LKW-1 (陆地勘查卫星一号 - land surveying satellite 1)

[GELORD]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/2017-12/03/c_1122050051.htm

[jcm]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2017-12/03/c_1122050051.htm

Xinhua News Agency, Jiuquan, December 3 (Li Guoli and Li Xiaofan) At 1211 on December 3, China successfully launched the Land Survey Satellite No. 1 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using the Long March No.2 carrier rocket, and the satellite entered the reservation track.

According to reports, the satellite is mainly used to carry out remote sensing of land resources.

This is the 257th flight of the Long March series carrier rocket.
satellite

Satellite name is 将陆地勘查卫星一号   Jiang ludi kancha weixing yi hao,  Land Survey Satellite 1

[edit: that first character jiang maybe isn't part of the name, to judge from the post above]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

[jcm]

Rui's article!
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/long-march-2d-lofts-latest-yaogan-weixing/

Is there any official evidence that this is "Yaogan 31" ?

[chewi]

China launches land exploration satellite
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/03/c_136796994.htm

JIUQUAN, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- China launched a land exploration satellite into a preset orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert at 12:11 p.m. Sunday Beijing Time.

The satellite is mainly used for remote sensing exploration of land resources.

A Long March-2D rocket carried the satellite into space.

The launch was the 257th mission of the Long March rocket series.

[GELORD]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

This launch used CZ-2D s/n Y47.
Exact launch time was 04:11:14.524 UTC.

[input~2]

Object cataloged:

2017-077A/43034 in 489 x 502 km x 97.46°

[input~2]

Short launch video
http://tv.cctv.com/2017/12/03/VIDE1Dnq8gJVh33e0XA4LdmA171203.shtml
http://tv.cctv.com/2017/12/03/VIDEewv7i2gGip4eWo0l06Fm171203.shtml
http://tv.cctv.com/2017/12/03/VIDELmxmOqB5tDonoClr9sQ8171203.shtml

[input~2]

Object cataloged:

2017-077A/43034 in 489 x 502 km x 97.46°

RAAN of 50° and altitude not far from those for YG-21 (46°/484 x 499 km) or YG-26 (53°/481 x 491 km)

[SciNews]

Long March-2D launches remote sensing satellite

A Long March-2D launch vehicle (Chang Zheng-2D) launched a new remote sensing satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China, on 3 December 2017, at 04:11 UTC (12:11 Beijing Time).

[Phillip Clark]

I wonder why the CZ-2D is the only Chinese launch vehicle which de-orbits the second stage after the satellite has separated in orbit.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Hexagonal shaped spacecraft with three solar panels.

[Steven Pietrobon]

I wonder why the CZ-2D is the only launch vehicle which de-orbits the second stage after the satellite has separated in orbit.

Do you mean the only Chinese launch vehicle? Falcon 9, Delta II and Atlas V have deorbited their second stages. Probably others as well. Perhaps the four vernier engines with their lower thrust and easier control enables the deorbit.

[eeergo]

From the video:

[Phillip Clark]

I wonder why the CZ-2D is the only launch vehicle which de-orbits the second stage after the satellite has separated in orbit.

Do you mean the only Chinese launch vehicle? Falcon 9, Delta II and Atlas V have deorbited their second stages. Probably others as well. Perhaps the four vernier engines with their lower thrust and easier control enables the deorbit.

Just edited the original post so that it specifies Chinese, which was my intention.

[Liss]

Close in height to YG-12/YG-21 but slightly higher.

[gwiz]

Does the similarity to Jilin-1 Optical mean the same bus was used, or just coincidence?

[SmallKing]

Does the similarity to Jilin-1 Optical mean the same bus was used, or just coincidence?

No this satellite is more advanced

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Bigger versions:

[input~2]

[SciNews]

A better view of the control center display

[input~2]

4 more objects have been cataloged; could be 4 retro rocket fairing tops from the 2nd stage

2017-077B/43035 in 479 x 503 km x 97.37°
2017-077C/43036 in 493 x 513 km x 97.59°
2017-077D/43037 in 423 x 499 km x 97.55°
2017-077E/43038 in 451 x 505 km x 97.34°