NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

FSW-0 3

Launch Time
Thu Jan 26, 1978 04:58 UTC

Final flight of the Long March 2.

Rocket

Long March 2
Image Credit: MASI
MASI
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 2,785 kN
Payload to LEO: 1,800 kg
Payload to GTO: 0 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 35.93 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.35 m
Fairing Height: 4.34 m

Mission Details

FSW-0 3

The Fanhui Shi Weixing (Chinese: 返回式卫星) were a series of Chinese recoverable reconnaissance satellites. The satellites were used for military and civilian observation tasks and completed 26 flights between 1 June 1969 and 9 September 2006. There were four models of the Fanhui Shi Weixing (FSW) satellites: FSW-0 (introduced in 1974); FSW-1 (introduced in 1987); FSW-2 (introduced in 1992); and FSW-3 (introduced in 2003). All four models were launched into orbit using Long March rockets.

A novel feature of the spacecraft's re-entry module was the use of impregnated oak, a natural material, as the ablative material for its heat shield.

The achievement of a recoverable satellite landing technology placed China third in the global space race after the Soviet Union and the United States. It served as the basis for the second Chinese crewed space program, the third crewed program (Project 863) during the late 1980s, and the current Shenzhou program (active since 1992).

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,800.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

Site 138 (LA-2B), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China

Stats

1978

11th orbital launch attempt

Long March 2

4th mission
1st mission of 1978
3rd successful mission
3rd consecutive successful mission