Chuang Xin 1-04 and Ling Qiao - CZ-2D - JSLC, 00:15, September 4th, 2014

• #20 by Star One on 04 Sep, 2014 08:40
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 08:16

  Quote from: Kryten on 04 Sep, 2014 02:10

  Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 02:08

  Here's the launch announcement from Xinwei: http://finance.ce.cn/rolling/201409/04/t20140904_3482110.shtml
  

  That link gives me a 404 error.
  

  Hmm that page is working here right now.
  
  Also see the report from Tsinghua University: http://news.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/news/4205/2014/20140904133620938303403/20140904133620938303403_.html - mentions that the satellite weights 135 kg and will be operating from a 780 km orbit. Makes me wonder how much excess capacity does this launch have - the 2 would have been easily carried by a Pegasus rocket had they been launched from the States. 
  
  Acc
  

  
  Seems overkill for the payloads. Do they not have a launcher that would be more appropriate for such lightweight payloads?
• #21 by input~2 on 04 Sep, 2014 10:33
• China launches two satellites via one rocket
  
  
  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2014-09/04/c_133620154.htm
• #22 by input~2 on 04 Sep, 2014 12:34
• Launch video clips:
  http://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10336/cbe7e8f4eae54c929996abb291a5a9b6
  http://news.cntv.cn/2014/09/04/VIDE1409825758623891.shtml
• #23 by Nighthawk on 04 Sep, 2014 13:02
• Quote from: Star One on 04 Sep, 2014 08:40

  Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 08:16

  Quote from: Kryten on 04 Sep, 2014 02:10

  Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 02:08

  Here's the launch announcement from Xinwei: http://finance.ce.cn/rolling/201409/04/t20140904_3482110.shtml
  

  That link gives me a 404 error.
  

  Hmm that page is working here right now.
  
  Also see the report from Tsinghua University: http://news.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/news/4205/2014/20140904133620938303403/20140904133620938303403_.html - mentions that the satellite weights 135 kg and will be operating from a 780 km orbit. Makes me wonder how much excess capacity does this launch have - the 2 would have been easily carried by a Pegasus rocket had they been launched from the States. 
  
  Acc
  

  
  Seems overkill for the payloads. Do they not have a launcher that would be more appropriate for such lightweight payloads?
  

  
  The upcoming CZ-6 (1t@700km SSO, still much overkill) and CZ-11(~350kg@700km SSO, may fit well)
• #24 by edkyle99 on 04 Sep, 2014 13:55
• Quote from: Targeteer on 04 Sep, 2014 05:10

  A comm satellite in a sun-synch orbit?
  

  It appears to be a store-dump comsat, something like Orbcomm or Strela.  These transfer low-rate data from low-power, usually data-logging ground stations, which explains the low orbit.  Sun Sync makes some sense because ground stations will be in view at least twice per day all over the planet, but I have to wonder if some type of ground observing  instrument might also be on board.  I also wonder why China needs to collect data from ground stations all over the entire planet.
  
   - Ed Kyle
• #25 by edkyle99 on 04 Sep, 2014 14:24
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 08:05

  Quote from: jcm on 04 Sep, 2014 04:52

  40136 14-051A cataloged in a 770 x 807 km x 98.5 deg, 0630LTDN sun-synch orbit, clearly one of the objects
  from this launch
  

  
  3 objects now found - apparently the 2 satellites and the 2nd stage:
  
  40136/2014-051A: 770 x 807 km x 98.47 deg.
  40137/2014-051B: 778 x 809 km x 98.46 deg.
  40138/2014-051C: 254 x 837 km x 98.00 deg. (2nd stage)
  

  Does anyone know how the second stage ended up in its orbit?  CZ-2D second stage usually has verniers firing after the main engine shuts down.  Does this mean they can restart?  Or is retro provided by venting the stage?
  
   - Ed Kyle
• #26 by Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 14:32
• Quote from: edkyle99 on 04 Sep, 2014 14:24

  Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 08:05

  Quote from: jcm on 04 Sep, 2014 04:52

  40136 14-051A cataloged in a 770 x 807 km x 98.5 deg, 0630LTDN sun-synch orbit, clearly one of the objects
  from this launch
  

  
  3 objects now found - apparently the 2 satellites and the 2nd stage:
  
  40136/2014-051A: 770 x 807 km x 98.47 deg.
  40137/2014-051B: 778 x 809 km x 98.46 deg.
  40138/2014-051C: 254 x 837 km x 98.00 deg. (2nd stage)
  

  Does anyone know how the second stage ended up in its orbit?  CZ-2D second stage usually has verniers firing after the main engine shuts down.  Does this mean they can restart?
  
   - Ed Kyle
  

  
  I think so - in fact many of the 2nd stages of the CZ-2D has been actively de-orbited since at least a few years ago.
• #27 by edkyle99 on 04 Sep, 2014 14:52
• Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 14:32

  Quote from: edkyle99 on 04 Sep, 2014 14:24

  Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04 Sep, 2014 08:05

  Quote from: jcm on 04 Sep, 2014 04:52

  40136 14-051A cataloged in a 770 x 807 km x 98.5 deg, 0630LTDN sun-synch orbit, clearly one of the objects
  from this launch
  

  
  3 objects now found - apparently the 2 satellites and the 2nd stage:
  
  40136/2014-051A: 770 x 807 km x 98.47 deg.
  40137/2014-051B: 778 x 809 km x 98.46 deg.
  40138/2014-051C: 254 x 837 km x 98.00 deg. (2nd stage)
  

  Does anyone know how the second stage ended up in its orbit?  CZ-2D second stage usually has verniers firing after the main engine shuts down.  Does this mean they can restart?
  
   - Ed Kyle
  

  
  I think so - in fact many of the 2nd stages of the CZ-2D has been actively de-orbited since at least a few years ago.
  

  This page talks about deorbiting via. "discharge of remaining propellant", which sounds like venting. http://www.cgwic.com/LaunchServices/LaunchVehicle/LM2D.html
  
   - Ed Kyle
• #28 by Lewis007 on 05 Sep, 2014 14:57
• Launch video clip on YouTube, which is easier to download.
  
  
  
• #29 by Satori on 16 Sep, 2014 22:10
• A nice article (in CHinese) about launch preparations and actual launch: http://www.spacechina.com/n25/n144/n206/n214/c743180/content.html
• #30 by Satori on 16 Sep, 2014 22:13
• And about Lingqiao (also in Chinese), http://news.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/news/4205/2014/20140915150211424416517/20140915150211424416517_.html