The Long March 3B rocket lifted off at 1:56 PM on December 4, 2024, marking a historic milestone as its 100th launch, a first for any Chinese rocket model. All launches have originated from the Xichang spaceport.
Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the Long March 3B is a mid-lift rocket measuring 56.3 meters in height and 3.35 meters in diameter. It features three stages and four side boosters, utilizing liquid-propellant engines with a liftoff weight of 456 metric tons. The rocket primarily transports satellites into geostationary transfer orbit, boasting a payload capacity of 5.5 tons, and can also deliver spacecraft to medium-Earth and lunar transfer orbits.
Development of the Long March 3B commenced in July 1989, with government funding secured in 1993. Its inaugural flight in February 1996 aimed to deploy a communications satellite but failed due to guidance issues. The model achieved success in August 1997 with the launch of a satellite for a Filipino aerospace firm.
Since then, the Long March 3B has played a crucial role in various national space initiatives, including the deployment of Beidou satellites and supporting lunar exploration missions such as Chang'e 3 and Chang'e 4. Beidou is a key component of China's satellite navigation system, part of a global network that includes GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. Over the last two decades, rockets from the Long March 3 series have launched 64 Beidou satellites into orbit.
Tuesday's launch represented China's 60th space mission of the year and the 549th flight within the Long March rocket family. The Communication Technology Demonstrator 13 satellite, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, another CASC subsidiary, is designed to enhance satellite communications, facilitate signal relay for radio and television, and support data transmission and advanced technological testing.