CZ-2D Y65 launch vehicle succeeded in sending Yaogan 35-03 satellites into the preset orbit at Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 21: 28 on July 29, 2022, marking a complete success of the launch mission.

The CZ-2D launch vehicle executing the mission is a 2-stage liquid rocket with propellant at normal temperature developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, with about 300t take-off thrust, and 1.2t carrying capacity at sun-synchronous orbit of 700km as well as the capacity to launch single satellite and multiple satellites with different orbit requirements.

Yaogan 35-03 satellites are mainly used in scientific experiments, land resource surveys, the yield estimation of agricultural products as well as the prevention and reduction of natural disasters, etc., and are respectively developed by China Academy of Space Technology, and Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

The full-time launch test team made its debut in Xichang

This is the first launch mission executed by the full-time launch test team of Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology at Xichang Satellite Launch Center. As a professional full-time launch test team, it’s responsible for works related to the command of each electric system of the rocket, rocket operation posts, ground launch test and control system posts, and partial interpretation posts, and has succeeded in executing 12 launch missions so far. According to the information, the subsequent launch mission of CZ-2D launch vehicle at Xichang Satellite Launch Center will also be undertaken by the full-time launch test team.

Now, it’s a rainy and stormy summer in Xichang, and in order to ensure the success of the launch mission, the model organization has strengthened and upgraded the rain-proof, damp-proof, and lightning-proof measures for the preceding missions. Meanwhile, a set of 3D dynamic virtual operation system for satellite-rocket joint operation was also developed, in response to the poor interaction of paper documents, the huge cooperative workloads and other problems involved in the satellite-rocket joint operation. The system can display each step of the satellite-rocket joint operation in the form of 3D animation by making full use of the 3D models, 2D drawings, and technical documents of preliminary design. In addition, by combining with the field work sheets, the system can further specify the current work nodes of operators based on the real-time reflection of the work progress, and is a powerful exploration of the model in refined management.

This is the 61^st launch of CZ-2D launch vehicle, the 161^st flight test of Long March series of launch vehicles developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and also the 429^th launch of Long March series of launch vehicles.

“Optimizing procedures, and coordinating the hub”
To become the most reliable “pioneer” of satellite system design

Despite the ongoing strict requirements for pandemic prevention and control, the entire team reunited at the scorching airport under the coordinated arrangement of Yaogan 35C satellite test team of Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, to accept the test, and head for the front line. The test team made an overall plan, to strengthen their capacity. By adhering to "vigorous collaboration, forward command and extensive participation in front-line work", one of the general directors and chief designers of the model were in charge of making overall plans in Shanghai, taking strict measures to promote the subsequent satellite development progress, while responsible the in-orbit test of launched satellites. Meanwhile, the other one was responsible for implementing a large amount of organizing, coordinating and dispatching work, and leading the test personnel to implement the shift system to realize "racing against time, and catching up the process". Under their leadership, the team gathered their efforts, turned their pressure into motivation, and faced up to the difficulties. By doing so, they once again succeeded in accomplishing the periodic tasks of the test team at the launch site with high quality and high efficiency, and also ensured the successful completion of the model tasks.

Wang Xiaofeng, the Deputy Chief Designer and Chief Designer of the General Assembly AIT, remained at the front line during the pandemic, "stationing" at the test site of Huaning Road Station. He volunteered to coordinate the communication between the front-line site, the project office and the department, to guarantee the success of a series of tests with the minimum personnel by taking remote testing measures. Besides, he was also responsible for the specific planning of the launch site process and the control of the technical status of the general assembly. By sticking to the concept of "leading the charge, and making continuous optimization and exploration", he strengthened the test process of the satellite launch site, advanced the continuous optimization of the subsequent satellite confirmation, explored the whole-process and whole-cycle AIT digital confirmation, and shortened the time of the satellite in the technical area of the launch site to less than 10 days. Despite his two posts, he was also responsible for communicating and coordinating with test team members who are respectively in charge of the launch vehicle, launch site, general assembly and the subsequent satellite tasks in Shanghai, and served as the hub for the communication and coordination between multiple parties.

Among the members of Yaogan 35-02C satellite and 03C satellite test teams, there is a person who remained at his post in the whole process, seeing everyone off and welcoming everyone back to Xichang, he is Liu Jiang, who was responsible for the security of two launch missions. When he was just transferred to Shanghai Institute of Satellite Engineering, he took the initiative to undertake the work of his colleagues who were unable to go to Xichang Satellite Launch Center due to the lockdown of their communities during the pandemic, and then learned fast from scratch, and adapted to the security tasks of the test team and other tasks. After the 02C satellite was launched, he resolutely obeyed the organizational arrangements, when a personnel was required to stay to coordinate and dock with Xichang. During the stationing period, he insisted on completing the security tasks, despite his back injuries, and guarded the "security" of all items during the mission.

They are only the microcosms of the Yaogan 35C satellite team. Their pioneering spirits and hard endeavors are inseparable of our successive successes. After completing the work in the technical area, some of the test team members rushed to Xi'an, to carry out the subsequent flight control.