Once again, without a warning or announcement,
China’s space agency blasted off Zhongxing 2E, or Chinasat 2E,
satellite, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province, south-western China.
The payload was a geostationary communication satellite,
which was launched on a Long March 3B rocket, into a planned Geostationary Transfer Orbit.
This marks the 28th launch from China in 2021 and comes just a day after its 27th successful orbital
launch of 2021, atop a Long March 6, on August 04. The launched was conducted by China Aerospace
Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and carried a payload mass weighing 5,400 kg.
The communication satellite would be first deployed into a geostationary transfer
orbit (GTO), after which, it would gradually rise its orbit to a geostationary orbit (GEO).
Chinasat 2E belongs to the second generation of Shentong tactical communications satellites.
It is designed to deliver secure voice and data communications to ground terminals.
Moreover, this satellite features advanced multiple steerable spot
beam antenna technology. It allows ground users to communicate, while on the move.
The satellite was launched atop the Long March 3B booster, which is an expandable three stage
medium-lift rocket, with an optional fourth stage. The rocket has four liquid-fueled side boosters,
and is an improved version over its previous iteration.
The Long March 3B was first launched in 2007,
and thanks to its upgrades over the years, it now has better payload capabilities to GTO.
The Long March 3B series features the multiple sections and sections including side boosters,
First stage, second stage, third stage, and an optional fourth stage.
Typically, the Long March 3B utilizes four side boosters that each use one YF-25 engine. The
side boosters each measures 16.1 meters in length, and produce 740 kilonewton of thrust at lift-off.
The first stage has four YF-21C engines, which produces 2,960 kilonewton of thrust
at sea level. The first stage measures 3.35 m in diameter and 24.76 m in height.
The second stage is powered by a single YF-22E engine. Just like the side boosters,
the second stage engine produces 74o kilonewton of thrust. The second stage of Long March 3B
is 3.35m in diameter and is about 13 m tall. The Long March 3B’s third stage is 12.4 m long,
and is powered by two YF-75 engines. Unlike the other stages, this stage is high energy
and high efficiency stage, powered by liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOx).
It’s important to remember, that since this engine only performs in the vacuum of space,
efficiency is of greater important than thrust. That’s it for this video. Thanks for watching.