Long March 5 rocket family
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Designed and developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), Long March 5 (LM-5, CZ-5, or Changzheng 5) is China's next generation space launch vehicle family, which would include a range of classes of launch vehicles for different missions.
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[edit] Development
Early reports stated that the CZ-5 project was announced in February 2001, with the initial development officially beginning in 2002. China hoped that the CZ-5 would fulfill the requirement for large payload LEO and GEO missions for the next 20–30 years, with the first versions of the vehicle going into service by 2008. Chief Designer for the CZ-5 was Long Lehao.
However, a new report on November 3, 2005, said that according to Wu Yansheng at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the CZ-5 was still awaiting final approval and would take about six years for development, being ready in 2012. [1] A further report on November 27, 2005, quoted the deputy commander of the manned space program saying that CZ-5 was still waiting for funding approval. Finally, in 2007, developers at the Northeast China exhibition revealed that funding was finally granted, and the first rocket of the series was scheduled to launch by 2010.
On October 30, 2007, ground was broken for the Long March 5 production plant at Tianjin. The rockets will be transported by sea from there to a new launch facility at Wenchang on Hainan Island. Because the launch facility will not be finished until 2012, first launch of the Long March 5 is not expected until 2013.[1]
[edit] Design
According to reports, the CZ-5 family will include three primary modular core stages 5.2 m diameter (greatest). The overall length is 60.5 meters and the launching weight over 800 tons[vague]. Boosters of various capabilities and with diameters ranging from 2.25 meter and 3.35 meters would be assembled from three modular core stages and strap-on stages. There would be a choice of engines with different liquid rocket propellants: 1,200 kN thrust LOX/kerosene engines or 500 kN thrust LOX/LH2 engines on first stage and boosters. The upper stage would use improved version of YF-75 engines.
Engine development began in 2000–2001, with testing directed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) commencing in 2005. Versions of both new engines: YF-100 and YF-77 had been successfully tested by mid-2007.
The CZ-5 series will deliver 1.5 t to 25 t payload to LEO, or 1.5 t to 14 t payload to GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit). This would replace the CZ-2, CZ-3, and CZ-4 series in service, as well as providing new capabilities which are not possessed by the current CZ family. The heaviest configuration of the CZ-5 with a 5.0 m diameter core stage and four 3.35 m diameter strap-on boosters should be able to send a 25 t payload to low earth orbit.
The CZ-5 rockets will be comparable to the Delta IV Heavy, Atlas V, Ariane 5, Angara A5, Proton, and Falcon 9.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ New carrier rocket series to be built. China Daily.
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