[FPSPACE] New Chinese launch

[Phillip Clark]

I still find it curious that the CZ-2C was used for this launch, even though Chen Lan had correctly identified such a launch vehicle for an FSW mission.

This raises the question of the mass of the payload.   The FSW-0 series were about 1,800 kg, FSW-1 about 2,100 kg and the FSW-2 up to 3,000 kg (there was a lot of variation in the three FSW-2 masses - about 400 kg from memory).   I had assumed that the "FSW-3"/Jianbing-4 would be about 3,500 kg because that is within the CZ-2D capability.   As far as I am aware, no payload mass has been announced for last year's Jianbing-4 payload.

The CZ-2C has a payload capacity of about 2,500 kg to LEO, so the new payload must have a maximum mass of this level; lighter than the FSW-2 announced masses and the
Jianbing-4 estimated mass that I used last year.

So, can the mass of the new-generation satellite be varied so much or has the 2C now been uprated so much that it can match the 2D ?

The launch pictures on Xinhua show that the first stage of the launch vehicle has four fins added, just like last year's uprated CZ-2D.

Nice to know that China can still throw some mysteries our way !

Phillip Clark

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Phillip S Clark                      Flat 2 Wellington House
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