ChangZheng 5 (Long March 5) Space Launch Vehicle

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Last updated: 12 April 2008

ChangZheng 5 (CZ-5, or Long March 5 in its translation) is a heavy load space launch vehicle (SLV) currently being developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). An important part of the PRC’s space programme in the 21st century, the CZ-5 will provide a world-class SLV comparable in performance to the European Ariane 5. The first launch of the SLV is expected to take place in 2014.

The model of the CZ-5 SLV displayed during the Zhuhai Air Show (Source: Chinese Internet)

The PRC government announced in its November 2000 white paper titled “China’s Space Activities” that the country would develop “the next generation of launch vehicles with non-toxic, non-polluting, high-performance and low-cost qualities”. The launch vehicle is able to deliver up to 25t payload into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO), or up to 14t payload into the Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). It will replace most existing models of the CZ-2/-3/-4 families currently in use, as well as providing new capabilities which are not possessed by the current ChangZheng SLVs.

Although the CZ-5 programme was not officially launched until 2007, research and development of relevant technologies had already started since 2000. The 120t-thrust LOX/Kerosene core engine and the 50t-thrust LOX/LH2 engine, which are the key technologies of the CZ-5, were successfully tested in 2005. The theoretical evaluation was completed by 2006 and the programme definition phase of the programme will finish in 2008. In May 2007, the engineering development of the CZ-5 was officially approved by the PRC government. The production of the first rocket will began in late 2008.

YF-77 50t-thrust LOX/LH2 rocket engine (Source: CASC)

YF-100 120t-thrust LOX/Kerosene core engine (Source: Chinese Internet)

Compared to the UDMH/N2O4 engine used by the current ChangZheng family, the new-generation engines of the CZ-5 have much lower poisoning gas emission as well as better reliability. With its heavy load delivery capability, the launch vehicle will be used to support the PRC’s future heavyweight GEO communications satellite, manned spaceflight (space stations), and lunar exploration projects.

Design

The CZ-5 adopts a modular design, with three primary modular core stages of 2.25m, 3.35m and 5.0m diameter. Launchers of various capabilities would be assembled from three modular core stages and strap-on stages.

The 5.0m diameter core stage consists of two 50t thrust YF-77 engines that burn liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen (LOX/LH2) propellant. It can be used as a standalone launcher, or added with strap-on boosters for higher payload capacity.

The 3.35m diameter core stage consists of two 120t thrust YF-100 engines that burn liquid oxygen and kerosene (LOX/Kerosene) propellant. It can be used as the strap-on booster of a heavy-load launcher, or the core stage of a medium-load launcher.

The 2.25m diameter core stage consists of one 120t thrust YF-100 engine that burns oxygen and kerosene (LOX/Kerosene) propellant. It can be used as the strap-on booster or a standalone small-load launcher.

The first production version of the CZ-5 series will consist of a 5.0m diameter core stage, with four 2.25m or 3.35m diamster strap-on boosters. When being used for GEO missions, the core stage will be added with an upper stage derived from the design of the third-stage of the CZ-3A. The upper stage is powered by a YF-75D rocket engine burning LOX/LH2 propellant.

The six configurations of this version are:

Production and Launch Facilities

The CZ-5 production will be carried out at the space manufacture facility located in the Binhai District of the Tianjin Municipality. The construction of the facility started in October 2007.

Because of its substantially increased size, the CZ-5 cannot be transported to the inland launch centres by railway, like the existing Changzheng launch vehicles. As a result, a new satellite launch centre is currently being built at Wenchang on the northeast coast of Hainan Island. Once a CZ-5 rocket is completed, it will be transported by sea to the new launch centre, where it will be then assembled for launch.

Construction of the Wenchang launch centre began in late 2007. It is the fourth and southernmost space launch centre of the PRC. The proximity of the site to the equator allows a substantial increase of payload mass. The new launch centre is surrounded by oceans, which helps avoid debris of the used launch vehicles falling into residential areas.

Specifications

Length: 60.5m (with the upper stage)
Core stage diameter: 5m
Launch weight: 675 tonnes
Fairing diameter: 5.2m
GTO Payload: (Basic variant) 10,000kg; (Type B) 14,000kg