Rocket launch capability is the basic support and main constraint of satellite constellation networking, which directly determines the scale, cost and progress of constellation construction.
Currently, StarNet has launched a total of 4 batches of network stars. Long March 5B launched twice, carrying 10 stars each time; Long March 8A launched once, carrying 9 stars at a time; Long March 6A launched once, carrying 5 stars at a time.
Next, we will briefly review the various parameters of the Long March 5B, Long March 8A, and Long March 6A.
1. Network overview
rocket model
Number of satellite launches
Number of satellites built
Long March 5B
2
10
Long March No. 8A
1
9
Long March No.6A
1
5
2. Structural parameters
rocket model
Long March 5B
Long March No. 8A
Long March No.6A
configuration
Level one and a half
Two and a half levels
Two and a half levels
core diameter
5 meters
3.35 meters
3.35 meters
boost diameter
3.35 meters
2.25 meters
2 meters
Number of boosters
4
2
4
Arrow body length
53.657 meters
50.539 meters
50 meters
quality
849 tons
371 tons
530 tons
3. Dynamic parameters
(1) Boosting force
rocket model
Long March 5B
Long March No. 8A
Long March No.6A
Booster type
liquid boost
liquid boost
solid boost
Number of boosters
4
2
4
Engine name
YF-100
YF-100
FG-112
Number of engines mounted on a single booster
2
1
1
propellant type
liquid oxygen kerosene
liquid oxygen kerosene
Butylated hydroxyl
Single engine thrust
(sea level thrust)
1223.5kN
(124.8 tons)
1223.5kN
(124.8 tons)
1214 kN
sea level specific impulse
300 s
300 s
/
(2) One-level power
rocket model
Long March 5B
Long March No. 8A
Long March No.6A
Engine name
YF-77
YF-100
YF-100GAII
Number of engines
2
2
2
propellant type
liquid hydrogen liquid oxygen
liquid oxygen kerosene
liquid oxygen kerosene
Single engine thrust
(sea level thrust)
518 kN
1223.5kN
(124.8 tons)
1223.5kN
(124.8 tons)
sea level specific impulse
3106 m/s
300 s
300 s
(3) Second level
rocket model
Long March 5B
Long March No. 8A
Long March No.6A
Engine name
/
YF-75DA
YF-115GIA
Number of engines
/
2
1
propellant type
/
liquid hydrogen liquid oxygen
liquid oxygen kerosene
Single engine thrust
(vacuum thrust)
/
10 tons
180 kN
When performing the Starnet mission, Long March 5B is equipped with the Yuanzheng 2 upper stage. Yuanzheng-2 is my country’s liquid-powered upper stage with the largest carrying capacity and strongest orbit-changing capability. Yuanzheng 2 is equipped with a YF-51D engine, which is composed of two YF-50D engines in parallel, with a total vacuum thrust of 13 kN. The propellant of YF-50D is dinitrogen tetroxide/uniform dimethyl hydrazine, with a vacuum thrust of 6500 N and a vacuum specific impulse of 3099 m/s.
4. Performance parameters
rocket model
Long March 5B
Long March No. 8A
Long March No.6A
LEO capacity
>25 tons
9.8 tons
More than 8 tons
SSO capacity
>15 tons
SSO (700 km): 7 tons
SSO (900km): 6.8 tons
SSO (500 km):>6.5 tons
SSO (700 km):>5 tons
