NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Demo Flight (XZF-SC & RCS-FC-SC)

Launch Time
Tue May 05, 2020 10:00 UTC

Maiden flight of Long March 5B.

Rocket

Long March 5B
Image Credit: CASC
CASC
Status: Active
Liftoff Thrust: 10,565 kN
Payload to LEO: 23,000 kg
Payload to GTO: 0 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 4
Rocket Height: 53.66 m
Fairing Diameter: 5.2 m
Fairing Height: 20.5 m

Mission Details

New Generation Crew Spacecraft

Test flight of China's next-generation crewed spacecraft which is yet to be named. The spacecraft will be larger than the current Shenzhou. Powered by two solar panels. This flight is uncrewed.

The spacecraft will remain in orbit for three days, before simulating an atmospheric re-entry from the Moon by passing the second cosmic speed.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 21,600.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

RCS-FC-SC

The RCS-FC-SC (Rouxing Chongqi Shihuowu Fanhui Cang - Shiyan Cang, "Flexible Inflatable Cargo Return Module - Test Module") was a Chinese recovery test of a capsule with an inflatable heat shield designed and built by CASIC.

RCS-FC-SC is a small spacecraft of 1.0 m × 1.5 m size. The experiment was mounted on the rear of the XZF-SC service module. For reentry, it inflated a 3 m conical heat shield, which also was to decelerate the capsule for landing, so no parachute was needed.

Payloads: 1
Low Earth Orbit

Location

LC-101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, China

Stats

2020

30th orbital launch attempt

Long March 5B

1st mission
1st mission of 2020
1st successful mission