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LM- 3A Launch Vehicle

* History

The development of LM-3A launch vehicle was started in 1980s, based on the flight proven technology of LM-3. The main mission of the launch vehicle is to launch China's communications satellites. In February of 1994, its maiden flight was successfully performed. The first and second China's DFH-3 communications satellites were successfully orbited by LM-3A in November 1994 and May 1997. As of April 30, 2005, LM-3A has performed 9 flights that are all successful.

* Technical Data

LM-3A is a 3-stage launch vehicle developed on the basis of LM-3 and LM-2C. Its third stage is powered by cryogenic propellants, namely, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. It is specially dedicated for launching different spacecraft for GTO missions. Its launch capability for GTO mission is 2600 kg. The fairing static envelope is 3m in diameter.

 

Stage

1stStage

2ndStage

3rdStage

Lift-off Mass(t)

241

Stage Propellant Mass (t)

171.775

30.752

18.193

Propellant

N2O4/UDMH

LOX/LH2

Engine

DaYF6-2

DaYF20-1 (Main)
DaYF21-1 (Vernier)

YF-75

Engine Thrust (KN)

2961.6

742 (Main)
11.8¡Á4 (Vernier)

78.5¡Á2

Engine Specific Impulse
(N¡¤Sec/kg)

2556.5

2922.57 (Main)
2910.5 (Vernier)

4312

Booster

0

Overall Length (m)

52.52

Fairing Diameter (m)

3.35

Fairing Length (m)

8.887

GTO Launch Capability(kg)

2600

Launch Record

(As of April 30, 2005)

No.

Launch Vehicle

Launch Date

Payload

Mission

LaunchCenter

Result

1

LM-3A F01

08 Feb.94

SJ-4/DP2*

GTO

XSLC**

Success

2

LM-3A F02

30 Nov.94

DFH-3***

GTO

XSLC

Success

3

LM-3A F03

12 May 97

DFH-3

GTO

XSLC

Success

4

LM-3A F04

26 Jan.00

ChinaSat-22

GTO

XSLC

Success

5

LM-3A F05

31 Oct.00

BD 1-01

GTO

XSLC

Success

6

LM-3A F06

21 Dec.00

BD 1-02

GTO

XSLC

Success

7

LM-3A F07

25 May 03

BD 1-03

GTO

XSLC

Success

8

LM-3A F08

15 Nov.03

ChinaSat-20

GTO

XSLC

Success

9

LM-3A F09

19 Oct.04

FY-2C

GTO

XSLC

Success

Note:
* China's scientific payload
** Xichang Satellite Launch Center
*** China's third generation communications satellites

 

LM- 2C/CTS Launch Vehicle LM- 2D Launch Vehicle LM- 2E Launch Vehicle
LM- 3A Launch Vehicle LM- 3B Launch Vehicle LM- 4 Launch Vehicle