On August 6, 2020,

CZ-2D launch vehicle was launched to the sky at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully carrying GF9 satellite 04 and Tsinghua gravity and atmosphere science satellite to the intended orbit precisely.

Launched for 50 times successfully in 30 years

CZ-2D launch vehicle was developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. GF9 satellite 04 was developed by Aerospace Dongfanghong Satellite Co., Ltd. of China Academy of Space Technology. Tsinghua gravity and atmosphere science satellite was developed by Tsinghua University. This is the342^ndlaunch of China’s Long March launch vehicles, the 120^thflight test of Long March launch vehicle developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the50^thlaunch of CZ-2D launch vehicle. So far, CZ-2D has launched satellites for 50 times in 30 yearssuccessfully, and sent more than 100 satellitesto the space.

CZ-2D launch vehicle is a normal temperature liquid two-stage carrier rocket with a takeoff thrust of300t; it has a carrying capacity of1.2tin the 700kmsun-synchronous orbit, which is the biggest carrying capacity among domestic two-stage carrier rockets. Through the upper stage combination with Yuanzheng-3 series, it can realize networking launch with multi-functional satellites in different orbits and has the spacecraft launching capability in the orbit with a height of more than 1000km. For 30 years, CZ-2D has been awarded as “Excellent Launch Vehicle”and “Gold Medal Launch Vehicle”owing to its outstanding performance and achievements. It has always been adhering to the“Six Strict” work style and quality and will continue carrying it forward.

Since 1990 when the development of CZ-2D launch vehicle was begun, 30 years have passed, and it has started a history of growth “without giving up halfway no matter what happens since the project has been started”. On August 9, 1992, CZ-2D launch vehicle was ignited at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for the first time, and launched a recoverable satellite successfully, becoming one of the Long March launch vehicles in China. Before this, China didn’t succeed in launching satellites, which brought great pressure to the aerospace field in China. CZ-2D, as the launch vehicle which was successfully launched in the first time, was considered a good start like a dragon raising its head, bringing a new force to the adverse situation of China’s aerospace.

Against the serious situation of rocket launching in China, in 1994 and 1996, CZ-2D launch vehicle respectively launched Y2 carrier rocket and Y3 carrier rocket successfully despite the great pressure. This has made a great transition to the persistently adverse situation of the space mission, and it was awarded the title of “Excellent Launch Vehicle” by Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The development team of CZ-2D launch vehicle summarized its experience from six aspects, forming the “Six Strict” work style, and the successful experience is thus carried forward.

After its big success in the maiden flight, CZ-2D launch vehicle never stops its pace in pursuing excellence in 28 years. Through comprehensive technical renovation, it has improved the inherent reliability of the launch vehicle steadily. Through adopting the advanced technologies like redundancy of the control system and combined navigation, the reliability index of the entire launch vehicle has been above 0.97, which is outstanding even in the world launch vehicle field.

Conquering the international market, with a deviation of only 0.003°

With times of excellent performance in international commercial launching, CZ-2D launch vehicle has won an extraordinary reputation in the world launching market. As recalled by the Commander in Chief of CZ-2D launch vehicle Tan Xuejun, in 2012, it launched GK-2 satellite of Turkey. Early in 2011 when the company bid for the launching service of the satellite, Russia with its Dnepr launch vehicle and Japan, with its H2 launch vehicle were doing their best. Facing the strong competitors, CZ－2D team, through its hard working, won the bid with its strength in high reliability and safety, and made a new record in the orbit injection accuracy of launch vehicles in China: The deviation from the actual injection inclination is only 0.003°, which is 30 times higher than the common design,and is also one order of magnitude higher than the contractual requirement. This has built a good international reputation and image for CZ-2D launch vehicle.

Through the international launching service, the team of CZ-2D launch vehicle has also formed standard international launching service procedures, which opens a path for the follow-up international launching service of this model and its brother model, forming the international launching standard and norm commonly used in the Group. After then, it provided high-grade launching services to many international clients including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Netherlands, Argentina, and Ecuador.

On Dec 7, 2018, CZ-2D sent SaudiSat-5A/B remote sensing satellite of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology successfully to the intended orbit. It was implemented according to the guideline of the Memorandum of Understanding for Space Science & Technology Cooperation between China National Space Administration and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology signed in March 2014, which is of great importance for further strengthening the cooperation in the aerospace field between China and Saudi Arabia.

At present, CZ-2D launch vehicle plays an important role in the medium-and-low orbit launching task. Through persistent development, as driven by the user task, new configurations will be continuously developed.

So far, multiple satellite carrying, parallel connection, series connection, series-parallel connection, and the multiple-satellite different-orbit deployment scheme realized through combination with the upper stagehave all passed the assessment. With diversified configurations, CZ-2D launch vehicle has been provided a series of tried and true safety strategies for multiple-satellite launching, with the fairing of different diameters including Ф2900mm, Ф3350mm, Ф 3800mm, and Ф 4000mm, and a series of standardized satellite and rocket interfaces; multiple-satellite launching has become a normal.

Taking full advantage of the carrying capacity, the diversified requirements of users can be satisfied to the greatest extent, which agrees with the launching requirement and development trend of commercial satellites. Take the year 2020 as an example, so far, the multiple-satellite launching technology has been used for 5 times in 6 launching tasks, and 17 satellites have been launched in all.

As introduced by the deputy chief designer of CZ-2D launch vehicle, Li Jianqiang, it succeeded in 5 launching tasks in 60 days, successfully launched 4 satellites in different places in 40 days, and continuously launched two satellites in the same place in 30 days,showing to the world that China has had rich experience in high-density launching. Facing the high-density launching situation, the development team of CZ-2D continues exploring the transformation and upgrading of the management model, and implements four measuresin an all-around way, namely: Setting a template for the video and sound recording at compulsory checking points, tabulation of the before-work meeting, standardization of test operation, and detailed job responsibilities. We implement the system for review and confirmation at the launching site, and ensure both high density and high quality launching through detailing and improving the working standard.

At the same time, in order to improve the efficiency, on the one hand, the development team focuses on promoting the transfer of knowledge to products and generalization of the model of launch vehicles; on the other hand, on the premise of ensuring the test coverage, we have shortened the testing and launching process at the launching site through project simplification and integration, integration of positions, and coordination between the front and rear working areas. CZ-2D launch vehicle adopted the long-distance measuring and launching model for the first time in 2003, and the horizontal power system test and electric system test at the rocket technical zone have been cancelled, which greatly improves the test efficiency, and shortens the working time at the launching site from 2 months to 13 working days.This year, the five launching tasks were all successfully finished in 13 working days. CZ-2D launch vehicle has become the model with the shortest testing and launching cycle at the launching site among the current liquid launch vehicles in active service at home.

Besides process optimization, digital application is also a right-hand man of high-density launching. The launch vehicle remote testing center established by 805 institute of Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology was formally put into operation in 2018; now it has formed the new measuring and launching model of “command of testing and operation by front-line workers, data interpretation and analysis by rear support staff”, in which the rear support staff has the remote monitoring and dispatching ability of the tests at the launching site, and at the same time has the ability to make remote decision making to key notes and links to realize fault simulation and diagnosis at the rear end and improve the ability for fast accident elimination.

The past is also a beginning.

The development team of CZ-2D launch vehicle,

with the psychology of empty cup,

takes each launching task as the first task,

devotes to the new journey towards building China into a space power with full enthusiasm and initiative,

and will keep our stride on the new Long March

with technological upgrade as a sail,

and innovation in management as a paddle.