Gaofen-11 03 - CZ-4B - Taiyuan - November 20, 2021 (01:51 UTC)

[Liss]

It seems we can expect this launch in August or so.

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/HumkHWDefJWUcEMnTQbMgA

遥感卫星总体部抓总研制的高分十一号03星正在紧张地开展D阶段测试，为保证卫星能够按期出厂，“五一”期间相关科研人员均到岗工作，再次展现了“紧抱成团、亲密无间”的团队精神风貌。
The Gaofen 11 03 satellite developed by the General Department of Remote Sensing Satellites is now intensively carrying out Phase D testing. To ensure that the satellite can be shipped on schedule, relevant scientific researchers will be on duty during the "May 1st" period. Team spirit of “group and closeness”.

[zubenelgenubi]

Gaofen-11

The two previous GF-11 satellites were launched on Long March-4B vehicles from Taiyuan LC9.

Launch threads
Gaofen-11 (01)     July 31, 2018, 03:00 UTC
Gaofen-11 (02)     September 7, 2020, 05:57 UTC

[Conexion Espacial]

Cross-post:
Possible NOTAM for this launch?

A2815/21 NOTAMNQ) ZHWH/QRTCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/3159N10958E018A) ZHWH B) 2111050212 C) 2111050239E) A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BUNDED BY:N321543E1094850-N321142E1101352-N314330E1100101-N314630E1094222, BACK TO START.ALL ACFT ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA.VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-UNL.F) GND G) UNLCREATED: 02 Nov 2021 07:25:00SOURCE: ZBBBYNYXA2816/21 NOTAMNQ) ZHWH/QRTCA/IV/BO/W/000/999/3059N10941E021A) ZHWH B) 2111050213 C) 2111050245E) A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:N311908E1093553-N311605E1095429-N303853E1094616-N304153E1092747, BACK TO START.ALL ACFT ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA.VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-UNL.F) GND G) UNLCREATED: 02 Nov 2021 07:25:00SOURCE: ZBBBYNYX

Edit: NOTAM was for Guangmu a.k.a. SDGSAT-1.

[input~2]

Possible NOTAMs (1st stage > fairing > 2nd stage) for this launch?

A2928/21 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:
N340116E1103304-N335938E1104554-N333813E1104204-N333950E1102913
BACK TO START. ALL ACFT ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE TEMPORARY
RESTRICTED AREA. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 20 NOV 01:44 2021 UNTIL
20 NOV 02:05 2021. CREATED: 16 NOV 03:24 2021

A2929/21 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:
N300716E1093846-N300416E1100014-N292649E1095320-N292949E1093155
BACK TO START. ALL ACFT ARE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE TEMPORARY
RESTRICTED AREA. VERTICAL LIMITS:GND-UNL. GND - UNL, 20 NOV 01:45 2021 UNTIL
20 NOV 02:10 2021. CREATED: 16 NOV 03:26 2021

A2930/21 - A RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED WITHIN SANYA FIR, WHICH IS A PART
OF THE FLW
AREA(N192910E1070904-N192342E1074250-N183014E1073314-N183542E106593
5), THIS RESTRICTED AREA (WITHIN SANYA FIR) NOT AVBL FOR ACFT TO
OVERFLY, VERTICAL LIMITS:SFC-UNL. GND - UNL, 20 NOV 01:46 2021 UNTIL 20 NOV
02:10 2021. CREATED: 16 NOV 03:33 2021

[input~2]

Another view along the flight path

[Liss]

Qiu Jiawen (邱家稳) is the commander of GF-11 03.

[Conexion Espacial]

At 01:51 UTC, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation successfully launched the Long March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, the rocket successfully launched the Gaofen-11 03 satellite.

[Conexion Espacial]

[Conexion Espacial]

https://twitter.com/conexionspacial/status/1461885873146974211

[SciNews]

Long March-4B launches Gaofen-11 03

[otter]

http://www.news.cn/english/2021-11/20/c_1310322409.htm

China launches new satellite
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-20 13:38:54

TAIYUAN, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China launched a new satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi on Saturday.

The satellite, Gaofen-11 03, was launched by a Long March-4B rocket at 9:51 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit successfully.

Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the satellite will be mainly used for land surveys, city planning, land rights confirmation, road network design, crop yield estimation and disaster prevention and mitigation.

The launch marked the 397th mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.

[zubenelgenubi]

[patch artwork]

Is there any significance to the blossoms and fruit in the patch artwork?

[Steven Pietrobon]

The fruit looks like pomegranate. In China the pomegranate "was considered an emblem of fertility and numerous progeny."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate

[input~2]

2021-107A/49492 in 246 x 696 km x 97.45° (S/C)
2021-107B/49493 in 210 x 518 km x 97.40° (upper stage)

[SPKirsch]

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1462046042459762693

A Chinese Chang Zheng 4B rocket successfully launched the Gaofen 11-03 satellite to sun-synchronous orbit this morning. It was the 44th orbital launch attempt from China this year.

Article by William Graham (@w_d_graham):
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/11/china-gaofen-11-03/

[Liss]

Too many errors in the text.
Each of the following statements is wrong:

Gaofen 11-03 is the third in a series of high-resolution optical imaging Gaofen 11 satellites, part of the wider Gaofen series which aims to provide China with a global high-definition Earth-imaging capability for civil applications.
The first such satellite, Gaofen 11-01, was launched in July 2016.
The Gaofen 11 satellites operate in sun-synchronous orbits, with a perigee of approximately 450 kilometers, an apogee of around 690 kilometers...

And this one has no proof:
Pad 7 continues to be used for suborbital Chang Zheng 2C launches in support of military projects.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Too many errors in the text.
Each of the following statements is wrong:

1. Gaofen 11-03 is the third in a series of high-resolution optical imaging Gaofen 11 satellites, part of the wider Gaofen series which aims to provide China with a global high-definition Earth-imaging capability for civil applications.
2. The first such satellite, Gaofen 11-01, was launched in July 2016.
3. The Gaofen 11 satellites operate in sun-synchronous orbits, with a perigee of approximately 450 kilometers, an apogee of around 690 kilometers...

And this one has no proof:
4. Pad 7 continues to be used for suborbital Chang Zheng 2C launches in support of military projects.

Let me elaborate:

1. This is caused by the Chinese "muddling waters" by reusing the Gaofen names that started out with 7 series of civilian Earth observation satellites (GF-1 to 7) for other ones that details were not disclosed (8 through 14). Though IIRC I have seen Chinese discussions that this name was used instead of the Yaogan series due to them having a different (government) customer, which could potential make them "semi-civilian".

2. Should be typo for 2019.

3. See Jonathan McDowell's summary: https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1461889946990563333?s=20

4. IIRC this was an educated guess based on observations of the "rocket signs" at the launch record insignia plate that could be found on the bottom of LC-7's tower some years ago. It was, indeed, a guess, even if it seems plausible.

[Liss]

2. Should be typo for 2019.
4. IIRC this was an educated guess based on observations of the "rocket signs" at the launch record insignia plate that could be found on the bottom of LC-7's tower some years ago. It was, indeed, a guess, even if it seems plausible.

2. Actually 2018.
3. 246x696 km (initial), 495 km circular later.
4. LC-9 launch record insignia plate lists two non-orbital launches per year in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

[input~2]

Short launch video from the military TV channel:

https://tv.cctv.com/2021/11/21/VIDENMHCYpGVhm9LPH8GYL25211121.shtml