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

[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