NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

FSW-3 2

Launch Time
Mon Sep 27, 2004 08:00 UTC

Rocket

Long March 2D
Image Credit: CASC
CASC
Status: Active
Price: $29.75 million
Liftoff Thrust: 2,962 kN
Payload to LEO: 3,500 kg
Payload to GTO: 1,200 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 40.77 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.35 m
Fairing Height: 7.82 m

Mission Details

FSW-3 2

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
Low Earth Orbit

Location

Site 9401 (SLS-2), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China

Stats

2004

40th orbital launch attempt

Long March 2D

5th mission
1st mission of 2004
5th successful mission