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At 18:00 on May 5, 2020, Long March-5B Launch Vehicle developed for China's manned space station, equipped with the trial version of new-generation manned spacecraft and a cargo return capsule for test, took off at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in China. About 488 seconds later, the payload combination split off from the launch vehicle and entered the planned orbit, making a complete success of the maiden flight, successfully completing the flight mission in the construction phase of the space station and inaugurating the "third step" of China's manned space program.
Photo by Tu Haichao
Modified on the basis of Long March-5, Long March-5B mainly undertakes the launch of space station module and other major space launch missions in China. The new launch vehicle has a total length of about 53.7m, a 5m-diameter core stage and four 3.35m-diameter boosters, as well as a 20.5m-long and 5.2m-diameter fairing. The launch vehicle uses non-toxic and environmentally friendly propellants, including liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen and kerosene. It has a takeoff mass of about 849 tons and a payload capacity of more than 22 tons to low earth orbit, which is currently the largest low-earth orbit carrying capacity among China's launch vehicles.
The successful maiden flight of Long March 5B verified the correctness and coordination of the overall design and individual system design of the launch vehicle. A series of technological breakthroughs have been achieved such as the separation of the large fairing, the large-diameter capsule-launch vehicle separation, and the precise control of the launch vehicle to enter orbit directly with high thrust, laying the foundation for constructing China's space station.
The launch vehicle and the trial versions of manned spacecraft and capsule are researched and developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, China Academy of Space Technology and the Second Academy affiliated to CASIC, respectively.
In this launch mission, seven organizations affiliated to CASIC have undertaken the R&D and production of the Long March-5B launch vehicle and key products in the ground system.
For example, Aerospace Measurement & Control Technology Co., Ltd. affiliated to China Aerospace Science & Industry Information Technology Academy has provided a variety of ground-based TM&TC equipment for the launch vehicle, and performed real-time "soundness monitoring" for such equipment during test, transfer and launch of the launch vehicle.
The high-performance composite thermal insulation products, developed by No. 306 Institute of the Third Academy, can effectively protect the electronic and electrical equipment around the gas pipeline of the rocket engine.
The servo mechanism of liquid hydrogen/oxygen engine equipped with key components manufactured by No. 111 Factory of the Third Academy can provide high-power hydraulic energy for the launch vehicle.
No. 46 Institute of the Sixth Academy has undertaken the R&D of the capsule system of the trial version of cargo return capsule.
Guizhou Space Appliance Co., Ltd. has provided more than 2,600 electrical connectors, relays, fans and motors for the launch vehicle, spacecraft and cargo return capsule.
No. 695 Factory of Henan Aerospace Industry Corporation has provided more than 18,000 pipeline connectors, and special pipelines and valves of various models for the launch vehicle.
Aerospace Precision Products Co. Ltd. has provided more than 300,000 high-performance fasteners. All these have provided support for this launch mission.
According to statistics, since the launch of Shenzhou 1 in 1999, China's Manned Space Program has implemented 16 major flight missions, all of which have achieved success.
