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CZ-6 (Chang Zheng-6)

CZ-6 (Flight 1) [Xinhua]

CZ-6 (Qilu 1, 4) [Xinhua]

The CZ-6 (Chang Zheng-6), also known as LM-6 (Long March-6), is a small liquid fueled launch vehicle in the CZ-5, -6 and -7 family.

The launch vehicle was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

CZ-6 features a 3.35 m diameter first stage fueled with LOX and Kerosene and powered by one YF-100 engine. Originally the vehicle was to be based on the 2.25 m small strap on of the CZ-5 family, but was changed to the 3.35 m diameter of the bigger booster and the CZ-7 family, although shorter and using only one instead of two engines.

The second stage has the smaller 2.25 m diameter and uses the same fuels with one YF-115 engine.

A restartable third stage reportedly uses the storable combination of Kerosene and Hydrogen peroxide. With four YF-85 engines it provides final orbit trim and can manoeuvre to different orbits to deploy multiple satellites.

CZ-6 can deliver 1500 kg into a low earth orbit or 1080 kg into a 700 km sun synchronous orbit.

Taiyuan is used as a launch site for the maiden launch in 2015, although later the new Wenchang cosmodrome will also be used.

An improved CZ-6A (Chang Zheng-6A) is planned to be introduced during the 13th Five Year Plan (2016-2020). It features 4 strap-on boosters of 1 m diameter, a lengthened stage one, a new stage two with the same diameter as stage one. It is planned to put up to 4000 kg into a sun-synchronous orbit.

Version Strap-On Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
CZ-6 - K-3-0 (?) / YF-100 K-2-2 / YF-115 ? / 4 × YF-85
Performance (kg) LEO LPEO SSO GTO GEO MolO IP
CZ-6 1500 1080 - - - -
No:       Type:             Serial    Date            LS            Payload

 1    1   CZ-6              Y1        19.09.2015      TY LC-16      XY 2 / DCBB / ZDPS 2A / ZDPS 2B / XW 2A / XW 2B / XW 2C / XW 2D / XW 2E / XW 2F / LilacSat 2 / NS 2 / ZJ 1 /
                                                                    KJSY 1 / TT 3 / NUDT-PhoneSat / XC 1 / XC 2 / XC 3 / XC 4
 2    2   CZ-6              Y2        21.11.2017      TY LC-16      Jilin-1 Shipin-04 / Jilin-1 Shipin-05 / Jilin-1 Shipin-06
 3    3   CZ-6              Y4        13.11.2019      TY LC-16      Zhongzi 1-01, ..., 1-05
 4    4   CZ-6              Y3        06.11.2020      TY LC-16      ÑuSat 9, ..., 18 / Beihangkongshi 1 / Tianyan 05 / BY 3
 5    5   CZ-6              Y5        27.04.2021      TY LC-16      Qilu 1 / Qilu 4 / Foshan 1 / Hangsheng 1 / Tianqi 9 / NEO 1 / Taijing-2 01 / Jinzijing 1-01 / Jinzijing 1-02
 6    6   CZ-6              Y6        09.07.2021      TY LC-16      Zhongzi 2-01, ..., 2-05
 7    7   CZ-6              Y7        04.08.2021      TY LC-16      KL-Beta A / KL-Beta B
 8    8   CZ-6              Y8        05.11.2021      TY LC-16      Guangmu 1 (SDGSAT 1)
10    9   CZ-6              Y10       10.08.2022      TY LC-16      Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D-09, 03D-35, ..., 03D-43 / Jilin-1 Hongwai-A01, ..., A06
11   10   CZ-6              Y9        26.09.2022      TY LC-16      Shiyan 16A / Shiyan 16B / Shiyan 17
13   11   CZ-6              Y12       20.06.2023      TY LC-16      Shiyan 25
 

Planned:


Launch sites:

TY  = Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), Wuzhai, Shanxi, China China
We  = Wenchang Space Launch Center (WSLC), Hainan, China China


F       Failure
P       Partial Failure

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