Chang Zheng-3C - Beidou-2 (Compass-G3) (June 02, 2010)

[Zipi]

Launch time: 15:53 UTC
Launch site: Xi Chang satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province

Official launch announcement: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/c ... 325733.htm
Preparation Images: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_44a353a30100i75x.html
Short launch report with photos: http://www.calt.com/xwzx/zyxw/2010060300440966909c.html
Another launch report: http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gn/news/201 ... 0008.shtml
NASA Spaceflight's Article: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/06/ ... -outlined/
Spaceflight Now's Article: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1006/02longmarch/
CCTV's Launch Video: http://space.tv.cctv.com/video/VIDE1275523626177883

Injection to GTO: 206 km x 35 647 km 20.5°
Exact launch time: 15:53:04.524UTC

Beidou Project Info from CCTV:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVUnL58UnxU[/youtube]

Earlier Beidou launch here at SDC: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22227&p=419656
Beidou Navigation System Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beidou_navigation_system

 

[EarthlingX]

SDC : China Sends Beidou Navigation Satellite to Orbit

By Stephen Clark

Spaceflight Now

posted: 03 June 2010
05:41 pm ET



China launched another satellite Wednesday toward an orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth, marking another step in building the country's own space navigation system.

The Beidou satellite launched at 1553 GMT (11:53 a.m. EDT) on a Long March 3C rocket from the Xichang space center in Sichuan province in southwestern China, where it was just before midnight.

Powered by three stages and two strap-on boosters, the 180-foot-tall rocket turned east from Xichang and deployed the Beidou navigation satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, according to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

Engines on the satellite will further raise its altitude in the next few weeks, and the craft will eventually slide into a parking slot 22,300 miles over the equator to cover the Asia-Pacific region.

 

[EarthlingX]

Zipi found plenty of nice images, just a couple of Xichang Satellite Launch Center from :

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_44a353a30100i75x.html

I like this art :

Checking the countryside in Google is worth the trouble, looks very picturesque.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...013672&ie=UTF8&geocode=FQEArwEdPM0UBg&split=0

 

[Zipi]

Heavens-Above: http://www.heavens-above.com/satinfo.aspx?SatID=36590

 

[RVHM]

Every single successful launch of a Chinese rocket is bad news and a menace for the Western world. China is an oppressive regime and an enemy of democracy, and a new Cold War is brewing between the West and China.

 

[EarthlingX]

I deleted my reply and comment. Bad form, no real argument.

Anyway, it is probably a political question.

 

[RVHM]

Many space fans get happy and excited when a Chinese rocket launches. Yet we should not forget that this same technology can be modified to deliver nukes to the United States and elsewhere.

That's why I don't like Chinese, North Korean and Iranian launches, they're just perfecting weapons to use against the West.

 

[Zipi]

Many space fans get happy and excited when a Chinese rocket launches. Yet we should not forget that this same technology can be modified to deliver nukes to the United States and elsewhere.

That's why I don't like Chinese, North Korean and Iranian launches, they're just perfecting weapons to use against the West.

Like it or not, they are still doing the launches... Closing your eyes won't help. And since this is "missons and launches" those should be documented here.

 

[RVHM]

Many space fans get happy and excited when a Chinese rocket launches. Yet we should not forget that this same technology can be modified to deliver nukes to the United States and elsewhere.

That's why I don't like Chinese, North Korean and Iranian launches, they're just perfecting weapons to use against the West.

Like it or not, they are still doing the launches... Closing your eyes won't help. And since this is "missons and launches" those should be documented here.

Of course, of course. I am not complaining of the fact that we are reporting their launches, just pointing out that all is not good news.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Many space fans get happy and excited when a Chinese rocket launches. Yet we should not forget that this same technology can be modified to deliver nukes to the United States and elsewhere.

That's why I don't like Chinese, North Korean and Iranian launches, they're just perfecting weapons to use against the West.

And one might point out that our launches are just as capabable the other way.

However, this thread is to discuss the launch, not the political ramifications. If needed, I will split the thread and place the posts not directly related to the launch under discsussion in a separate one in Space Business and Technology.

MW