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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLaunch SuccessfulEarth ScienceLong March 4B
Launched 2002-10-27 03:17 UTCLaunch Complex 7, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Success
Reached Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Worldwide
51st
orbital launch attempt in 2002
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
4th
launch this year
Launch Complex 7
2nd
launch from this pad this year
Pad turnaround
165 d 1 h
since the pad's previous launch
JB-3 2 was nominally a Chinese (PRC) remote sensing satellite, although US intelligence sources indicated it had primarily an intelligence imaging mission. JB-3 2 was the name adopted by the USSPACECOM. Most news reports from China and elsewhere use different names: ZY-2B (acronym for ZiYuan-2B, translated as Resource-2B), and Zhong Guo Zi Yuan Er Hao, translated as China Resource 2. No information was available on the instruments onboard the JB-3 2, but officially it was intended 'for territorial survey, environment monitoring and protection, urban planning, crop yield assessment, disaster monitoring, and space scientific experiments'.
Launch Provider
Government · China · Founded 1999 · Chairman & President Lei Fanpei
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.
Launches
621
Successful
605
97%
Landings
1
of 2
Upcoming
7
scheduled
Height
44.1m
Diameter
3.4m
To low Earth orbit
4,200kg
Liftoff thrust
2,961kN
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