Tianlian-2 03 - CZ-3B/G3 - Xichang - July 12, 2022 (16:30 UTC)

• #20 by Liss on 13 Jul, 2022 07:03
• Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 13 Jul, 2022 05:19

  Quote from: Satori on 12 Jul, 2022 19:40

  Liss is reporting this was a G2 rather than a G3: https://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/articles/84145.html
  

  
  I think this is an error. Previous launches used the G3. Pixel counting assuming a third stage diameter of 3 m, gives an estimate of 4.1 m for the fairing, right between 4.0 m for G2 and 4.2 m for G3!
  
  https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tl-2.htm
  

  I do not have an inside info on this but the fairing looks to be 4.0 m.
• #21 by Alter Sachse on 13 Jul, 2022 12:58
• Wikipedia China writes
  
  改进Ⅲ型     =   Improved Type III
  
  
  
  With an estimated mass of the satellite of 5.5 tons, this sounds logical.
• #22 by PM3 on 10 Oct, 2023 11:54
• NSF reported that it launched on a CZ-3B/E:
  https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/07/tianlian-2-03/
• #23 by Bean Kenobi on 10 Oct, 2023 13:03
• Quote from: PM3 on 10 Oct, 2023 11:54

  NSF reported that it launched on a CZ-3B/E:
  https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/07/tianlian-2-03/
  

  
  "CZ-3B/E" is a way to say "Enhanced CZ-3B". All CZ-3B/G2 and CZ-3B/G3 belong to the "CZ-3B/E" category.
• #24 by FutureSpaceTourist on 22 Oct, 2023 06:35
• https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1715915881207722485
  
  

  Quote

  Third stage of the CZ-3B rocket used to launch China's TL2-03 data relay sat in Jul 2022 reentered at 1629 UTC Oct 20 over Antigua