Long March 4A

The Long March 4A (Chinese: 长征四号甲火箭), also known as the Changzheng 4A, CZ-4A and LM-4A, sometimes misidentified as the Long March 4 due to the lack of any such designated rocket, was a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It was launched from Launch Area 7 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. It was a three-stage rocket, used for two launches in 1988 and 1990. On its maiden flight, on 6 September 1988, it placed the FY-1A weather satellite into orbit. On its second, and final, flight it launched another weather satellite, FY-1B.

Rendering of Long March 4A
Function	Carrier rocket
Manufacturer	CALT
Country of origin	China
Size
Height	41.9 metres (137 ft)[1]
Diameter	3.35 metres (11.0 ft)[1]
Mass	249,000 kilograms (549,000 lb)[1]
Stages	3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	4,000 kilograms (8,800 lb)[2]
Payload to SSO
Mass	1,500 kilograms (3,300 lb)[2]
Associated rockets
Family	Long March
Derivative work	Long March 4B
Launch history
Status	Retired
Launch sites	LA-7, TSLC
Total launches	2
Success(es)	2
First flight	6 September 1988
Last flight	3 September 1990

A few days after the launch of FY-18, the third-stage of the CZ-4A launch vehicle exploded in the 895 km orbit, creating more than 80 pieces of space debris. This incident led to a redesign of the rocket to include a residual propellant venting system. A venting system was not included in the 4a because of the concern that it would damage the satellite.

It was replaced by a derivative, the Long March 4B, which first flew in 1999. The Long March 4B offers a more powerful third stage, and a larger payload fairing.