Is there a link on here somewhere please?
I find the fact that they are being more open about the KZ-2 launch than the Yaogans on the LM rockets fascinating. Could this be some sort of an attempt by China at being more "transparent" regarding the KZ launch vehicle, which they know has generated a lot of concern in the US?
It seems that this KZ launch inaugurated the western launch position. The eastern one was used in the 2012 attempt and the 2013 launch.Here are two images from the 9ifly.cn forum and the Google Earth image attached. Photos were shot from the railway bridge in the left. One can easily see that the launch position is projected to the left position, not the right one.
Google translation of http://www.casic.com.cn/n103/n133/c2022698/content.html gives the following bit.""fast boat" rocket is an important achievement "863 Program", a total of 132 patents, including 34 invention patents, with "more, faster, better and cheaper"". (My underlining).There is also mention of use of "grid rudder technology". Looks like China's "Start 1" to me.So, is it DF-21 or DF-31 based? I'm leaning toward DF-21, based on the diameter which appears to be less than 5 feet (DF-31 is 6.56 feet diameter, DF-21 is 4.59 feet). - Ed Kyle