As outlined in the first part all of China’s current stable of operational launchers have their origins in its military missile programme. The DF 3 and DF 4 missiles were the direct predecessors of the CZ 1 responsible for placing the first Chinese satellite in orbit in 1970. The CZ 2 series of launchers (including the CZ 2D, the CZ 3 series as well as the CZ 4 series) and the defunct Feng Bao Launcher were all derived from the DF 5 ICBM. In all these developments, the space programme has used the power plants of their missiles as the base around which they have configured different architectures for realizing the payload requirements for different space missions. By adapting the missile through the stretching of the stages and through the addition of suitable upper stages and strap-on boosters China has created launchers that are built around the DF 5/CZ 2 basic architecture.
China’s Launch Vehicle Programme
China's Space Programme ; Chapter : 14 ; 245-290
2022-05-05
46 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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