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Dec. 9, 2013
Long March 4B launch with CBERS-3
CBERS-3, the latest Earth resources satellite of the long-running China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program between the Chinese and Brazilian space agencies, was launched on a Long March 4B rocket earlier today at 03:26 UTC.
For some yet-to-be-determined reason the satellite did not reach orbit despite separating from the rocket 12 minutes after liftoff. This is the first launch failure of the Long March 4 series since its debut in 1988 - 34 launches earlier. If the similar Long March 2D is also counted (also built in Shanghai like the LM-4 series) this is its first failure in 55 launches.
Already running at least 3 years late due to electric system problems, this should have some impact on the Brazilian space program with the gap on its Earth resources program further lengthened to 2015 (when the similar CBERS-4 is planned to launch); although impact on the Chinese should not be significant with several similar satellites already up and running in orbit.
However, despite initial news of a launch success, the Chinese media are now claiming the launch vehicle suffered a problem during ascent, failed to insert the satellite into its required orbit, leading to the satellite being classed as lost and potentially re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS 3)
No specific information has been provided by the Chinese media other than the mission failed. This came several hours after the Brazilians published the launch was successful.
The Brazilians have since claimed the spacecraft was inserted into an orbit much lower than required due to the unknown problem with the Long March 4B. The spacecraft apparently communicated for 15 minutes before falling silent, potentially – as is being claimed – as it began to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
More will follow when information is available (video).
For more information about China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), visit: http://www.spacechina.com/n25/jtindex.html
Images, Text, Credits: CASC / Orbiter.ch Aerospace.
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