The first flight was a success! Hybrid power, unmanned operation... What are the strengths of the first "hybrid version" of the Long March rocket?

Image source: Xinhua News Agency

After much anticipation, the Long March 6A finally made its debut.

Six and a half years have passed since the first flight of the Long March 6 on September 20, 2015, marking the debut of my country's new generation of carrier rockets. During this period, we have witnessed the first flights of four carrier rockets: the Long March 5, Long March 6, Long March 7, and Long March 8.

However, the Long March 5 has a modified version called the Long March 5B, the Long March 7 has a modified version called the Long March 7A, and the Long March 8 has a modified version without boosters. So the question is: where is the modified version of the Long March 6?

The answer finally appeared yesterday——

The “two satellites in one rocket” was a complete success, and my country’s first solid-liquid bundled carrier rocket achieved its maiden flight successfully.

01

Solid-liquid hybrid, perfect match

The Long March 6 Modified is very different from the Long March 6

Looking back at the history of my country's launch vehicle development, the Long March series of launch vehicles have entered a new journey of more than 400 launches, but there has been no precedent for solid-fuel bundled rockets.

So what are the specific changes of Long March 6-X compared with Long March 6? Let's "find the differences" together.

Figure: "Long March 6A" (left) and "Long March 6" (right)

(Photo source: China Science Expo)

On the right side of the picture above is the "Long March 6", which is 29 meters long, with a core diameter of 3.35 meters and equipped with a YF-100 liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engine with a thrust of 120 tons. The second stage has a diameter of 2.25 meters and is equipped with a YF-115 liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engine with a thrust of 18 tons. The fairing has a diameter of 2.6 meters or 2.9 meters.

The left side in the picture above is the "Long March 6 Modified", which is 50 meters long, with a core stage diameter of 3.35 meters, equipped with two 120-ton thrust YF-100 liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engines, a second stage diameter of 3.35 meters, equipped with an 18-ton thrust YF-115 liquid oxygen-kerosene rocket engine, and a fairing diameter of 4.2 meters or 5.2 meters.

According to Hong Gang, chief commander of the Long March 6 modification of the Eighth Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the core stage of the Long March 6 modification is bundled with four solid fuel-powered boosters. The thrust of a single booster can reach 120 tons, breaking the fastest "starting" record of the Long March series of launch vehicles.

▲ Schematic diagram of solid booster

(Image source: Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)

02

"Taming" power, unattended

"Intelligent brain" allows the Long March 6 to walk freely in the sky

Looking at various launch vehicles in the world, there are many cases of solid rocket engines being used as boosters - the US Atlas launch vehicle, the space shuttle launch system and the Space Launch System that will be used for the Artemis Project, the European Space Agency's Ariane series of launch vehicles, and Japan's H-2 and H-3 series of launch vehicles all use solid rocket engines as boosters.

As my country's first carrier rocket using solid-fuel rocket boosters, the Long March 6A uses high-energy, high-density solid fuel boosters to generate powerful thrust with less fuel. The simpler structure of the solid rocket engine also reduces the system complexity of the Long March 6A.

At the same time, unmanned operation is also a change brought about by the Long March 6 modified carrier rocket.

Unlike previous launches of carrier rockets, before the launch of the "Long March 6A", the staff will evacuate the launch tower, and all work will be done by remotely controlling the rocket in the measurement and control launch hall.

Now that all the people have left, who will take over the work that was previously done by people?

The answer is "machine".

This remote control technology and the innovative joint swing control solution allowed the Long March 6 modified rocket crew to evacuate four hours before launch, nearly 3.5 hours earlier than the conventional carrier rocket launch process, allowing the rocket to "gracefully and gracefully" "stroll" into the sky.

[Extended reading: What are the new generation of Long March rockets currently in service in my country? ]

(Photo source: China Aerospace News)

Long March 6 modified carrier rocket successfully completed its maiden flight

A series of new technological breakthroughs have been achieved in my country's launch vehicle solid bundling, etc.

Promoting a new generation of launch vehicles to be more efficient, smarter and safer

It has laid a solid foundation for the innovative development of my country's new generation of launch vehicles

future

Let us look forward to more good news together!

Comprehensive sources: Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily, China Aerospace News, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China Science Expo, etc.