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Xihe (CHASE)

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Overview

Destination: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Mission: Heliophysics

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Launch Complex 9 Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Xihe, also known as the Chinese Hα Solar Explorer (CHASE), is designed to test a newly developed satellite platform and conduct solar observations. The scientific payload of the satellite is an Hα imaging spectrograph (HIS), which can, for the first time, acquire full-disk spectroscopic solar observations in the Hα waveband. It will complement the observations by on-orbit solar spacecraft (such as SDO, IRIS, STEREO and PSP), as well as future solar missions of the Solar Orbiter and the Chinese Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S). Mission is named Xihe after a solar deity from Chinese mythology.

Updates

Cosmic_Penguin • Oct. 14, 2021, 11:23 a.m.

Launch success.


Cosmic_Penguin • Oct. 12, 2021, 10:10 a.m.

Added launch per NOTAMs and public reports - note high uncertainty of assigning payload/rocket with the specific launch notice.


Long March 2D

Family:
Configuration: 2D

The Long March 2D, also known as the Chang Zheng 2D, CZ-2D and LM-2D, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is a 2-stage carrier rocket mainly used for launching LEO and SSO satellites.

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    1
  • Max Stage
    2
  • Length
    38.3 m
  • Diameter
    3.35 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    232.0 T
  • Thrust
    2962.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 2D
  • Family
  • Variant
    2D
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Long March 2D
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $30000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    3500.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    1300.0 kg

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

(CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei Founded: 1999 Successes: 516 Failures: 14 Pending: 7

Agency Type:

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

INFO WIKI

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China launches hydrogen-alpha solar telescope aboard Long March 2D

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China launches first solar observatory, tests grid fins

China carried out its 37th orbital launch of the year Thursday, successfully sending the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer and 10 other satellites into orbit.

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

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