Kuaizhou, Kuaizhou-1 launch, Jiuquan - September 25, 2013 (04:37 UTC)

• Kuaizhou, Kuaizhou-1 launch, Jiuquan - September 25, 2013 (04:37 UTC) by Galactic Penguin SST on 22 Sep, 2013 07:00
• There will be a launch out of Jiuquan on September 25:
  
  A1508/13 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N395346E1000419-N395252E1001113-N393932E1000817-N394023E1000123 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 25 SEP 04:28 2013 UNTIL 25 SEP 05:13 2013. CREATED: 22 SEP 05:52 2013
  
  A1509/13 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY: N301023E0974854-N301023E0981623-N311854E0981623-N311854E0974854 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 25 SEP 04:30 2013 UNTIL 25 SEP 05:19 2013. CREATED: 22 SEP 05:55 2013
  
  ....which may be linked to this launch; however there's something strange about them: the 1st drop zone seems to be very close to JSLC, and the 2nd drop zone is not parallel to the 1st one - in fact it looks a bit like the launch zones of the mystery launch on March 17 of last year (it's interesting to see that the distances to drop zones on that time are more or less close to that of the very high altitude launch out of Xichang on May 13 this year). Maybe someone here can determine what it's for?
• #1 by Liss on 22 Sep, 2013 08:42
• These two are almost the same as for 17 Mar 2012 unannounced launch, later thought to be related to Kunpeng-7:
  
  

  Quote

  A0181/12 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY N393509E1000000-N392150E0995703-N392056E1000357-N393415E1000654 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-UNL. ALL ACFT ARE PROHIBITED TO FLY INTO THE AREA. SFC - UNL, 17 MAR 05:00 2012 UNTIL 17 MAR 05:35 2012. CREATED: 16 MAR 03:08 2012
  
  A0182/12 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY N311612E0980325-N301228E0974857-N301026E0980112-N311406E0981546 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: SFC-UNL. ALL ACFT ARE PROHIBITED TO FLY INTO THE AREA. SFC - UNL, 17 MAR 05:00 2012 UNTIL 17 MAR 05:39 2012. CREATED: 16 MAR 03:15 2012

  
  This time A1508/13 zone is somewhat closer to the launch pad than A0181/12 in 2012.
  
  
  
• #2 by input~2 on 22 Sep, 2013 12:22
• A1508/13 & A1509/13
  vs
  A0181/12 & A0182/12

  ---

  

  
• #3 by Galactic Penguin SST on 22 Sep, 2013 12:27
• It seems that the previously mentioned orbital launch (rumored to be launching the follow-on of the SJ-6 series) and the launch on Sept. 25 are two distinct launches...... 
• #4 by Liss on 24 Sep, 2013 19:21
• One more NOTAM for tomorrow's test:
  
  

  Quote

  A1544/13 - THE SEGMENT JIAYUGUAN VOR 'CHW'-YABRAI VOR 'YBL' OF ATS RTE B215 CLSD. FL000 - FL999, 25 SEP 04:20 2013 UNTIL 25 SEP 05:10 2013. CREATED: 24 SEP 14:25 2013
• #5 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Sep, 2013 03:05
• I have the feeling that this one will shock everyone out of the box - there are rumors that this is the mysterious "not-CZ" launch rumored earlier this year, and I would not be surprised if it gets some thingy into orbit (probably a very low 200-300 km sun synchronous orbit, judging from the launch path). This seems to fit into the "quick response satellite system" model that has been under development in the US (ORS etc.) and proposed by the Chinese.
  
  Well - we'll see if we get 2013-053A in a few hours...... 
• #6 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Sep, 2013 05:17
• OH MY GOODNESS! IT'S AN ORBITAL LAUNCH! OF A NEW ROCKET! 
  
  The launch vehicle is "Kuaizhou" (Quick-vessel, a.k.a. Clipper) and the satellite is named "Kuaizhou-1". Launch time is 04:37 UTC. The satellite, as I guessed before, is used for disaster emergency data monitoring and imaging (well you know what "disaster" means  ), and will be used by the national remote sensing center of the national Academy of Sciences (among others?  ).
  
  http://news.mod.gov.cn/headlines/2013-09/25/content_4468181.htm
• #7 by weedenbc on 25 Sep, 2013 05:37
• Any idea what it uses?  Liquid, solid, etc?  Just how different is it?
• #8 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Sep, 2013 05:40
• Quote from: weedenbc on 25 Sep, 2013 05:37

  Any idea what it uses?  Liquid, solid, etc?  Just how different is it?
  

  
  It was mentioned that it's an all solid launcher - wonder if they just modified a mobile ICBM and launcher system...... 
• #9 by weedenbc on 25 Sep, 2013 05:45
• Depends on whether it's coming from a fixed space launch pad or not.
  
  Odds are it's based on some sort of ballistic missile or parts of ballistic missiles, because that's what the Americans and Russians do, although they often have a liquid upper stage so they can refine the final orbit insertion.
• #10 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Sep, 2013 05:48
• A related question: I remember that DARPA had studies doing small satellite constellations that can be launched at very short notice in "emergency" situations (something like this: http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_12_18_2012_p0-530082.xml), but I can't find the discussion thread here at NSF. Can someone please help?
• #11 by Galactic Penguin SST on 25 Sep, 2013 06:28
• Earlier rumors pointing to the Harbin Institute of Technology building the satellite and CASIC building the launcher seems to be confirmed.....
• #12 by Liss on 25 Sep, 2013 06:35
• No TLEs as of now -- which is understandable for new lanch vehicle and almost now heads-on info.
• #13 by Satori on 25 Sep, 2013 06:43
• Was there any noticeable works on Jiuquan for preparing a launch site area for a mobile platform in the last months?
• #14 by Liss on 25 Sep, 2013 07:03
• HIT recognized the satellite :-)
  
  
  
  
  
  http://news.hit.edu.cn/articles/2013/09-25/09135738.htm
  
  
• #15 by Steven Pietrobon on 25 Sep, 2013 07:13
• Its was successfully launched at 12.37pm Beijing Time.
  
  http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2013/09-25/5320689.shtml
  
  Translation:
  
  "China Launches "fast boat first" satellite
  September 25, 2013, source: China News Network interactive (7) 4
  
  CNS, Jiuquan, September 25 (reporter Zhang Liwen)-September 25, Beijing time, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China with a "fast boats" small launch vehicle, successful "first fast boat" satellite launch, satellite into orbit successfully.
  
  "First fast boat" emergency monitoring satellite is mainly used for all kinds of disasters and disaster relief information support, its users are China's Ministry of science and technology National Centre for remote sensing. (End)"
  
  
• #16 by weedenbc on 25 Sep, 2013 07:17
• Sounds a lot like the various US efforts at Operationally Responsive Space:
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operationally_Responsive_Space_Office
  
  The DARPA program is ALSA:
  
  http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/TTO/Programs/Airborne_Launch_Assist_Space_Access_(ALASA).aspx
• #17 by Chris Bergin on 25 Sep, 2013 07:32
• If anyone has any photos or graphics of this rocket, please post!
• #18 by Steven Pietrobon on 25 Sep, 2013 07:48
• There's a forum report saying it might be based on the DF-21 or DF-31. Not much to see except a big tube on a trailer.
• #19 by Chris Bergin on 25 Sep, 2013 07:53
• Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 25 Sep, 2013 07:48

  There's a forum report saying it might be based on the DF-21 or DF-31. Not much to see except a big tube on a trailer.
  

  
  I'll take that big tube on a trailer photo if it's around.