China launched a new Baidou navigation
satellite (identified as Beidou-3G (1S) into orbit. The CZ-3CE was topped
by a new hypergolic bipropellant space maneuvering stage named Yuanzheng
1 (YZ-1).
The rocket's LH2/LOX third stage inserted YZ-1 and Beidou satellite into
a 194 x 25,307 km x 55 deg orbit. YZ-1 then fired its MMH/N2O4 fueled
490 N thrust engine YF-50 twice, first to raise the apogee to 35,785 km
and then, hours later, to circularize the orbit at 35,786 km, creating
an inclined geosynchronous orbit. |
