Yaogan 32-01 Group Satellites Launched

China successfully launched the Yaogan 32-01 group satellites atop a LM-2C carrier rocket (with the Yuanzheng 1S upper stage) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 10:43 Beijing time on October 9. This was the maiden flight of the Yuanzheng 1S upper stage.

The Yaogan 32-01 group satellites were developed by the DFH Satellite Co., Ltd under the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), aiming at electromagnetic environment detection and other related technology tests.

The LM-2C launch vehicle was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). The LM-2C launch vehicles have successfully launched 5 times from the Xichang,Jiuquan and Taiyuan launch sites in 2018,demonstrating the quality and ability of the “golden rocket”.

Yaogan 32-01 group satellites are being launched by a LM-2C carrier rocketPhoto: CUI Yuehao

The Yuanzheng 1S upper stage was designed based on the adaptability improvement of the Yuanzheng 1 upper stage. It has doubled the carrying capacity to 700 km sun-synchronous orbit of the LM-2C carrier rocket, satisfied the mission demands, and enhanced the rocket’s competitiveness in the commercial space market enabling it to conduct more missions.

Compared to the Yuanzheng 1 upper stage, the Yuanzheng 1S upper stage mainly has four differences.First is to meet mission demands. The Yuanzheng 1S ignites in sub-orbit while the Yuanzheng 1 igintes out of Earth’s gravity. Second is the shorter flight time of ten minutes instead of more than six hours, due to the simpl ified thermal protection design and the elimination of the unnecessary redundant design. Third is that the satellites on the upper stage are arranged in tandem instead of horizontal bands and the separation mode is adjusted accordingly. Fourth is that the first ignition is to send the group satellites into their preset orbits and the re-ignition is to conduct active deorbit, while the two ignitions of the Yuanzheng 1 upper stage are to send the satellites into orbits.

At present, there are four members in the Yuanzheng upper stage family, i.e.Yuanzheng 1 upper stage, Yuanzheng 1A upper stage, Yuanzheng 1S upper stage and Yuanzheng 2 upperstage.

This was the 286th flight of the LM series launch vehicle. (LIU Huaiyu/China Space News)