Long March Rockets Expected to Deliver Over 40 Launches in 2021

China's Long March carrier rockets are scheduled to carry out more than 40 launches in 2021, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

The space station of China is now under construction and the Long March 2F, the Long March 7 and the Long March 5B carrier rockets are to be used to launch manned spacecraft, cargo spaceships and the core capsule of the space station.

The Long March 11 carrier rocket will carry four to five launches this year, with one from the land launch center and three to four launches from the offshore platform.

The rocket succeeded on its maiden sea-based flight and its first offshore commercial launch in 2019 and 2020. With various launch modes, the rocket will be improved to ensure safe, reliable and economic launches.

To meet demands of the market, CASC will develop a Long March 11A solid-fueled carrier rocket with a larger diameter and better payload capacity.

According to the company, the new rocket is anticipated to be completed within two years and will have a diameter of 2.65 meters and a payload of 1.5 to 2 tons in low-Earth orbit.

The Long March 3A carrier rockets have completed more than 10 missions so far in 2021 and are scheduled to be launched twice a month in the second half of the year.

Verification of landing area control technology will also be carried out on the Long March 3B rocket.

A view of the maiden flight of the Long March 5B carrier rocket [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)