Long March 5 rocket family

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.

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. [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=118&art_id=qw1131010561172B252] 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 near Binhai New Area in Tianjin. The reason for building a completely new production facility is because the large size of the rocket has prevented it from being efficiently transported to launching centers on land. The rockets will be transported by sea from there to a new launch facility at Wenchang on Hainan Island. The new production facility would include various buildings totaling more than half a million square meters at cost of four and half a billion RMBY, and the first stage of the construction is scheduled to be completed by 2009. Because the launch facility will not be finished until 2012, first launch of the Long March 5 is not expected until 2013. [cite web |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/31/content_6217880.htm |title=New carrier rocket series to be built |publisher=China Daily] In an interview aired with CCTV that has aired in July, 2008, the deputy director of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT, 中国运载火箭技术研究院) Ms. Liang Xiaohong (梁小虹) has revealed that the maiden flight of CZ-5 is scheduled in 2014. In the same interview, the director of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT, 中国运载火箭技术研究院) Mr. Li Hong 李洪 revealed that when the production facility is completed in 2012, it would be capable of a maximum output of thirty CZ-5s annually. As of July, 2008, development of the 1,200 kN thrust LOX/kerosene engines has already been completed.

Design

The general designer of CZ-5 is Mr. Li Dong (李东) of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT, 中国运载火箭技术研究院). According to reports (confirmed by the interview CCTV aired in July 2008), 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 of 643 tons, with a thrust of 833.8 tons. 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, GSLV Mk.III, Atlas V, Ariane 5, Angara A5, Proton, and Falcon 9.

ee also

* Comparison of heavy lift launch systems

References

http://www.geocities.com/launchreport/cz5.html