NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Shiyan-2

Launch Time
Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:45 UTC

Rocket

Long March 2C
Image Credit: CASC
CASC
Status: Active
Price: $30.8 million
Liftoff Thrust: 2,962 kN
Payload to LEO: 2,850 kg
Payload to GTO: 1,000 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 42.0 m
Fairing Diameter: 3.35 m
Fairing Height: 8.37 m

Mission Details

Shiyan-2

Shiyan 2 (SY 2, Experiment 2)or Tansuo 2 (TS 2), a 450-lb. spacecraft is China's first experimental digital imaging system capable of stereo Earth-terrain mapping. Although a civilian remote-sensing satellite, the digital imaging capability will be important to prove the technology for a new generation of Chinese military reconnaissance spacecraft also under development. The spacecraft designation also indicates that a series of such 'Experiment Satellites' may be in the works. Officials had not previously announced the project by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Research Institute of Space Technology, the Harbin Polytechnic University, and Changchun Photomechanical Institute.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 204.0 kg
Sun-Synchronous Orbit

Location

LC-3, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China

Stats

2004

47th orbital launch attempt

Long March 2C

23rd mission
4th mission of 2004
23rd successful mission