On 10th July 2020, China’s 1st Kuaizhou-11(KZ-11), solid-fuelled carrier rocket launch was failed.The rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.On July 9, 2020 China launched its new commercial telecommunication satellite “APSTAR-6D” by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
Kuaizhou-11 was the 19th Rocket launched by China in the year 2020 & also the third launch that ended as failure for China in 2020.
Kuaizhou-11(KZ-11):
i.Kuaizhou-11(KZ-11) means ‘Fast Ship’ in China’s Mandarin language.
ii.It was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.(CASC) and commercialized by the China Space Sanjiang Group Corporation (Expace).
iii.During the failed launch, Kuaizhou-11(KZ-11) carried Jilin-1 Gaofen-02E or BilibiliSat and the CentiSpace-1 S2 – also designated Xiangrikui 2.
- The Jilin-1 satellite constellation was developed by the Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd under the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and is the country’s first self-developed remote sensing satellite for commercial use – with data to help clients forecast and mitigate geological disasters, as well as shorten the time scale for the exploration of natural resources.
- CentiSpace-1 S2 – also designated Xiangrikui 2 was developed by Beijing Future Navigation Technology Co. Ltd for the purpose of navigation.
iv.It has a lift-off mass of 70.8 tonnes, the rocket was designed to launch low-Earth and Sun-synchronous orbit satellites.
v.It can lift payload about 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) to Low Earth Orbit(LEO) and 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) (700 km) to Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SS0).
vi.The Payload fairing size of Kuaizhou-11 is 2.2–2.6 m (7 ft 3 in–8 ft 6 in) &
vii.Reason for failure:The maiden flight failed, when stage three did not ignite.
Note – The launch was earlier planned in the year 2018, but has been delayed till 2020 due to various reasons.
China Successfully Launched Telecommunication Satellite “APSTAR-6D”
On July 9, 2020 China launched a new commercial telecommunication satellite “APSTAR-6D” by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
Gist about telecommunication satellite “APSTAR-6D”:
i.The APSTAR-6D satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology Corp.(CASC), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. The satellite was purchased by APT Mobile SatCom Limited in 2016.
ii.The satellite is designed to provide high-speed communications with a capacity of about 50 gigabytes per second.
iii.It is expected to last about 15 years in space in geostationary orbit, as part of a broadband satellite communications system serving the Asia-Pacific region.
About China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.:
Headquarter – Beijing, China
President – Xu Qiang
