Exciting news from the cosmos! 🌌 China's Long March-12 carrier rocket successfully lifted off from the brand-new Hainan commercial space launch site last Saturday night, sending test satellites into orbit. This milestone marks a giant leap for China's commercial space endeavors.
Built and operational in just 878 days, the Hainan site faced massive challenges for its inaugural launch, including a new launch pad, rocket, procedures, and an all-star team. Talk about pulling off a space feat in record time! 🏆
The launch featured a remote firing control system, centralizing ground control in the main building while commands flew out from the second control hall. Efficiency was the name of the game!
The second launch pad, the powerhouse behind this mission, is China's first general-purpose medium-sized liquid launch pad. It’s versatile enough to handle nearly 20 types of rockets ranging from 3.35 to 5 meters in diameter.
Utilizing the innovative \"three-flat\" rapid processing approach—horizontal assembly, testing, and transportation—the pad ensures swift and smooth launch operations. Imagine prepping a rocket in just three days and resetting in a week! 🛠️
The Long March-12 is also a trailblazer as China's first 4-meter-diameter liquid-fueled launch vehicle. Standing at about 62 meters long and weighing 430 tonnes, it’s a powerhouse with a payload capacity of 12 tonnes to low-earth orbit and 6 tonnes to sun-synchronous orbit. Perfect for launching single or multiple satellites based on mission needs.
With its ability to adapt to satellite fairings of 5.2 or 4.2 meters, the Long March-12 is all set to support a variety of space missions, making China a formidable player in the global space race. 🌍🚀
