BEIJING: China’s first seaborne rocket launch is scheduled for mid 2019with a Long March-11 carrier rocket set to blast off in the Yellow Sea,said Jin Xin, deputy chief commander of the rocket.
China has achieved a breakthrough in the key technologies for seabornelaunches, Jin, of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told apress conference by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The Long March-11, with a length of 20.8 meters and a takeoff weight ofabout 57.6 tonnes, is the only rocket using solid propellants among China’snew generation carrier rockets. It has a relatively simple structure andcan be launched in a short time.
After leaving port, the rocket could be launched within a week, said Jin.
The rocket can carry a payload of up to 350 kg to a sun-synchronous orbitat an altitude of 700 km and 700 kg to a low-Earth orbit at 200 km. It ismainly used to carry small satellites, and can take multiple satellitesinto orbit at the same time.
A seaborne launch has many advantages over a land launch, Jin said. Forinstance, the launch site is flexible, and falling rocket remains pose lessdanger.
Using civilian ships to launch rockets at sea would lower launch costs andgive it a commercial edge, said Jin.
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It will also help lay the groundwork for developing reusable rockets andrecovery technologies at sea.
The seaborne launch technology will help China provide launch services forcountries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.
Another three Long March-11 launches on land are also planned this year.
The Long March-11, which made its maiden flight on Sept. 25, 2015, has sofar sent 25 satellites into orbit in six launches with high reliability andgood performance rates. Xinhua
