At 10:12 on April 3, 2025, the Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying the Tianping-3A 02 satellite was successfully launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, and the launch mission was a complete success.
The following is part of the research and analysis of the Long March 6 launch vehicle:
1. Basic information
The Long March 6 carrier rocket is a three-stage rocket developed by the president of the Eighth Institute of Aerospace Science and Technology. It uses the “three-level” test and launch mode, which includes horizontal overall testing, horizontal integral star-arrow docking, and horizontal integral transportation and erection. In August 2009, the Long March 6 model project was approved. At the end of 2010, Long March 6 entered the preliminary prototype stage. In September 2013, Long March 6 entered the sample stage. In December 2013, Long March 6 completed joint training at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. At 7:01 on September 20, 2015, the Long March 6 successfully made its first flight of “20 satellites in one rocket” at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, setting a new record for my country’s multiple satellites in one rocket.
2. Rocket composition
(1) One sub-level
The Long March 6 first stage has a diameter of 3.35 meters and a length of 13.431 meters. It is equipped with a double-swing YF-100 liquid oxygen kerosene engine, with a take-off thrust of 1188 kN and a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.2. (2) Second stage The Long March 6 second stage has a diameter of 2.25 meters and a length of 8.925 meters. It is equipped with a YF-115 liquid oxygen kerosene engine. YF-115 adopts an oxygen-rich pre-combustion staged combustion cycle, with a vacuum thrust of 176.5kN and a vacuum specific impulse of 342s. (3) Third sub-stage The Long March 6 third sub-stage has a diameter of 2.25 meters and a length of 0.786 meters. It is equipped with a YF-50E dinitrogen tetroxide/uniform dimethyl hydrazine engine. YF-50E is an upper-stage engine specially designed for the Long March 6, with a thrust of 6.5 kN and a specific impulse of 315.5 s. 3. Launch records Up to now, Long March 6 has been launched a total of 14 times, all of which were successful, with a success rate of 100%. The 14 launches of the Long March 6 were all launched from the LC-16 launch station of the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. At 7:01 on September 20, 2015, Long March 6 made its first flight. At 12:50 on November 21, 2017, Long March 6 completed its first commercial launch. At 14:35 on November 13, 2019, Long March 6 completed its first low-inclination circular orbit launch. At 11:19 on November 6, 2020, Long March 6 completed the first foreign order launch. At 11:20 on April 27, 2021, Long March 6 used a 2.9-meter-diameter fairing for the first time. At 7:50 on September 27, 2022, the Long March 6 Yaojiu was successfully launched. The rocket launched this time used kerosene advance filling technology for the first time.
