Long March 5
The Long March 5 (LM-5, or Chang Zheng 5) is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) for the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Here are some key details about this rocket:
Development and Purpose
- The development of Long March 5 began in the mid-2000s to meet China's need for a more powerful launch vehicle capable of sending heavy payloads into space, including components for the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program and future missions to Mars.
- It aims to replace older models like the Long March 2 and Long March 3 families, offering significantly greater payload capacity.
Design and Specifications
- Long March 5 stands approximately 57 meters tall and has a core stage with a diameter of 5 meters, making it one of the largest Chinese rockets in terms of size and capacity.
- It uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants, which is a departure from the hypergolic fuels used by its predecessors, offering higher specific impulse and cleaner exhaust.
- The rocket has various configurations:
- Long March 5 (CZ-5) for general launch services.
- Long March 5B (CZ-5B) designed specifically for launching large space station modules and other heavy payloads into low Earth orbit (LEO).
- It can deliver up to 25 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 14 tonnes to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Notable Missions
- First Flight: The inaugural launch occurred on November 3, 2016, from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan, successfully placing the Shijian-17 satellite into orbit.
- Notable Launches:
- Launch of the Chang'e 5 lunar sample return mission in November 2020.
- Deployment of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe in July 2020.
- The first launch of the Long March 5B in May 2020, which carried the prototype CSS (China Space Station) module.
Challenges and Setbacks
- The development faced numerous technical challenges, including engine development issues with the YF-77 and YF-75D engines.
- The second flight of the Long March 5, in July 2017, failed due to an issue with the engine's turbo pump, leading to a significant delay in the program.
- Subsequent successful launches after 2017 showed the resolution of these issues.
Future Plans
- The Long March 5 is integral to China's plans for deep space exploration, including missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
- It will play a crucial role in the assembly of the Chinese Space Station and other future space station components.
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