Yaogan 31 Group 02 - CZ-4C - Jiuquan - January 29, 2021 (04:47 UTC)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

There's apparently another group of the YG-31 triplet in Jiuquan right now as per press releases made during the PRC establishment anniversary on October 1st: https://twitter.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1313480944498679813

[zubenelgenubi]

Recent launch intervals:

China launches in 2020 from Jiuquan LC43/94 and 43/91 (times in UTC)

May 31 (08:53) - CZ-2D (Y51) - JSLC (01-115), LC43/94 - Gaofen-9 (02); HEAD-4 (HEDE-4)

June 17 (07:19:04.327) - CZ-2D (Y52) - JSLC (01-116), LC43/94 - Gaofen-9 (03), Zheda Pixing-3A, HEAD-5 (HEDE-5)  17 days

July 4 (23:44:04.111) - CZ-2D (Y29) - JSLC, LC43/94 - Shiyan Weixing-6 (02) 'Chuangxin-3A (02)'                              18 days

August 6 (04:01:54.278) - CZ-2D (Y56) - JSLC, LC43/94 - GF-9 (04); Tsinghua Kexue Weixīng (Q-Sat)                        33 days

August 23 (02:27:04.117) - CZ-2D (Y57) - JSLC, LC43/94 - Gaofen-9 (05); Tiantuo-5, Duo Gongneng Shiyan Weixing   17 days

September 4 (~07:30) - CZ-2F/T3 - JSLC, LC43/91 - Chongfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi, SubSat                              12 days

September 21 (05:40:04.276) - CZ-4B (Y41) - JSLC (01-120), LC43/94 - Haiyang-2C                                                  17 days

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Some rumors regarding all LM-4 series launches:

There are reports that all Long March 4 series launches will be grounded till "end of this year" due to unspecified problems with the rockets.

[zubenelgenubi]

Follow-up cross-posts:

There are reports that all Long March 4 series launches will be grounded till "end of this year" due to unspecified problems with the rockets.

The same person is currently reporting that he/she does not expect any LM-4 launches in November, “maybe one” in December.

And:

To be launched:
-0X Dec 2020 Long March 4B Yaogan-31-02

What is/are newfrontiers' sources?

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; my bold:

To be launched:
-20 Dec 2020 Long March 8
-2X Dec 2020 Long March 4C

All others will be delayed to next year, so 39 in total.

[Satori]

According to 9ifly Chinese space forum, this launch was pushed to 2021.

[Satori]

Possibly to launch January 2021.

[Alter Sachse]

 February 4 (?)

http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/event/long-march-4c-rocket-launch-yaogan-31-satellite?instance_id=4184

[Satori]

The launch can take place in the next days as Yuan Wang 7 just arrived at the Timor Sea, south of Bali, indicatingthe possibility of launch.

[zubenelgenubi]

The launch can take place in the next days as Yuan Wang 7 just arrived at the Timor Sea, south of Bali, indicating the possibility of launch.

Follow-on to:

For YG-31-02 we should have a more solid date once the Yuan Wang 7 tracking ship moves to its position (Timor Sea?). It's currently moving to the east of Philippines.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The launch can take place in the next days as Yuan Wang 7 just arrived at the Timor Sea, south of Bali, indicating the possibility of launch.

Follow-on to:

For YG-31-02 we should have a more solid date once the Yuan Wang 7 tracking ship moves to its position (Timor Sea?). It's currently moving to the east of Philippines.

In fact YW-7 has already arrived at the usual spot in the Timor Sea for JSLC 63 degrees inclination launches since yesterday.

This launch can happen any time now, perhaps even today. Yet there's nothing else that can prove its existence...

[Liss]

Seems to be our NOTAM:

A0165/21 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N360403E1044718-N355510E1043036-N361529E1041407-N362722E1043627 BACK TO START. ALL ACFT ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA. VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 29 JAN 04:38 2021 UNTIL 29 JAN 05:05 2021. CREATED: 27 JAN 07:27 2021

[Liss]

Looks very much like the NOTAM zone of 10 Dec 2014.

[input~2]

and also similar area defined by waypoints in NOTAM for April 10, 2018 (YG-31 Group 01)

New NOTAMed area below

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Liftoff confirmed, at ~04:48 UTC.

https://twitter.com/iBd6S77Ivw72xPk/status/1355016682637557760?s=19

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch success has been confirmed with T-0 at 04:47 UTC.

[sdsds]

I'm confused by the color of the plumes in the photos above.
The photos near the pad show N2O4 / UDMH coloring but not the photo showing no apparent plume, nor the one showing a white plume. How does that work? Is the coloring of the plume near the pad from some source other than the propellant (e.g. dust)?

[otter]

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-01/29/c_139706736.htm

China launches new remote sensing satellites
2021-01-29 13:45:09

JIUQUAN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The second group of China's Yaogan-31 remote sensing satellites were sent into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Friday at 12:47 p.m. (Beijing Time).

The satellites were carried by a Long March-4C rocket. It was the 359th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series, the launch center said.

Having entered their planned orbits, the satellites will be used for electromagnetic environment surveys and other related technology tests.

China launched the first group of the Yaogan-31 remote sensing satellites in 2018.

[Liss]

Shanghai Aerospace quotes a different task for the satellites -- sort of strange.

主要用于科学试验研究、海洋和陆地资源普查等任务
They are mainly used for scientific experiment research, marine and terrestrial surveys and other tasks

[Liss]

Six objects has been found in expected orbits but in new orbital plane 48 E of YG-31 01.