Yuanzheng

Yuanzheng (Chinese: 远征; pinyin: Yuǎn Zhēng; lit. 'Expedition') is a restartable upper stage developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) for the Long March rocket family.

Yuanzheng
ManufacturerCALT
Country of originChina
Used onLong March rocket family
(2C · 2D · 3B · 3C · 5 · 7)
Associated stages
ComparableFregat
Launch history
StatusActive
Total launches23
Successes
stage only)
23
Failed0
Lower stage
failed
0
First flight30 March 2015
BeiDou I1-S
Last flight9 July 2023
Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan
Launch date
Yuanzheng
Powered by1 × YF-50D[1]
Maximum thrust6.5 kN (1,500 lbf)[2]
Specific impulse315.5 seconds[2]
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH

The Yuanzheng stage enables the Chinese launch vehicles to deploy payloads directly to high-energy orbits such as medium Earth orbit (MEO) and geosynchronous orbit (GSO). Since the Long March third stage cannot restart, it cannot circularize a GSO or GEO orbit from a geosyncronous transfer orbit (GTO). With its restart capability, Yuanzheng has enabled the deployment of satellite pairs for the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System in MEO and communications satellites in GSO. This eliminates the need for the spacecraft to include a liquid apogee engine or an apogee kick motor.[3]

Yuanzheng has a thrust of 6.5 kN (1,500 lbf) with a specific impulse of 315.5 seconds. It uses the storable hypergolic propellants unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), and can perform at least two burns within its rated life of 6.5 hours, sufficient to reach the transfer orbit apogee, and perform the circularization burn from there.[4]

Operational variants are designated YZ-1 for Long March 3B and 3C, YZ-1A for Long March 7, YZ-1S for Long March 2C, YZ-2 for Long March 5, and YZ-3 for Long March 2D.

Models

Yuanzheng upper stages from left to right: YZ-1, YZ-1A, YZ-1S, YZ-2, YZ-3
Yuanzheng upper stages from left to right: YZ-1, YZ-1A, YZ-1S, YZ-2, YZ-3

History

Yuanzheng was presented in a 2013 paper[3] and performed its first mission on 30 May 2015. The debut flight of the Long March 7 in 2016 included an improved version called Yuanzheng-1A that can flexibly deploy multiple payloads into various target orbits.[5] Further variants were later deployed for Long March 5 (YZ-2) in 2016, Long March 2C (YZ-1S) and Long March 2D (YZ-3) in 2018.

Flight

No.

Date (UTC) Carrier Rocket Stage Model Serial Number Launch site Mission Result
012015-03-30
13:52
Long March 3CYZ-1Y1XichangBDS I1-SSuccess
022015-07-25
12:29
Long March 3BYZ-1Y2XichangBDS M1-S / BDS M2-SSuccess
032016-02-01
07:29
Long March 3CYZ-1Y3XichangBDS M3-SSuccess
042016-06-25
12:00
Long March 7YZ-1AY1WenchangInaugural MissionSuccess
052016-11-3
12:43
Long March 5YZ-2Y1WenchangInaugural MissionSuccess
062017-11-5
11:45
Long March 3BYZ-1Y4XichangBDS-3 M1
BDS-3 M2
Success
072018-01-11
23:18
Long March 3BYZ-1Y5XichangBDS-3 M7
BDS-3 M8
Success
082018-02-12
05:03
Long March 3BYZ-1Y6XichangBDS-3 M3
BDS-3 M4
Success
092018-03-29
17:56
Long March 3BYZ-1Y7XichangBDS-3 M9
BDS-3 M10
Success
102018-07-29
01:48
Long March 3BYZ-1Y8XichangBDS-3 M5
BDS-3 M6
Success
112018-08-24
23:52
Long March 3BYZ-1Y9XichangBDS-3 M11
BDS-3 M12
Success
122018-09-19
14:07
Long March 3BYZ-1Y10XichangBDS-3 M13
BDS-3 M14
Success
132018-10-09
02:43
Long March 2CYZ-1SY1JiuquanYaogan 32A, 32BSuccess
142018-10-15
04:23
Long March 3BYZ-1Y11XichangBDS-3 M15
BDS-3 M16
Success
152018-11-18
18:00
Long March 3BYZ-1Y12XichangBDS-3 M17
BDS-3 M18
Success
162018-12-29
08:00
Long March 2DYZ-3Y1JiuquanYunhai-2 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06
Hongyan-1
Success
172019-09-22
21:10
Long March 3B/EYZ-1Y13XichangBDS-3 M23
BDS-3 M24
Success
182019-11-23
00:55
Long March 3B/EYZ-1Y14XichangBeiDou-3 M21
BeiDou-3 M22
Success
192019-12-16
07:22
Long March 3B/EYZ-1Y15XichangBeiDou-3 M19
BeiDou-3 M20
Success
202021-08-24
11:15
Long March 2CYZ-1SY2JiuquanRSW-01
RSW-02
unknown payload
Success
212021-11-03
07:43
Long March 2CYZ-1SY4JiuquanYaogan 32-02A, 32-02BSuccess
222022-05-20
10:30
Long March 2CYZ-1SY5JiuquanLEO Test Sat 1/2
Digui Tongxin Weixing
Success
232023-07-09
11:00
Long March 2CYZ-1SY3JiuquanHulianwang Jishu Shiyan 01
Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 02
Success

Versions

Currently, there is known to be five versions:

  • Yuanzheng-1 (AKA YZ-1) (Chinese: 远征一号; pinyin: Yuǎn Zhēng Yī Hào; lit. 'Expedition One'): Initial version used with the Long March 3. It could perform missions of 6.5 hours, make two ignitions, perform one spacecraft deployment operation.[6][7]
  • Yuanzheng-1A (AKA YZ-1A) (Chinese: 远征一号甲; pinyin: Yuǎn Zhēng Yī Hào Jiǎ; lit. 'Expedition One A'): Improved version used with the Long March 7. Improved version with mission life extended to 48hs, capability to perform at least 9 ignitions and ability to do 7 different separation events. It also includes improved thermal control system, guidance algorithms and orbit planning for multiple payload deployment missions. It will be used as the base system for future deep space propulsion stages, space tugs and orbital servicing and debris removal spacecraft.[6][8]
  • Yuanzheng-1S (AKA YZ-1S) (Chinese: 远征一号商业型; pinyin: Yuǎn Zhēng Yī Hào Shāng Yè Xíng; lit. 'Expedition One Commercial Version'): Improved version used with the Long March 2C.
  • Yuanzheng-2 (AKA YZ-2) (Chinese: 远征二号; pinyin: Yuǎn Zhēng Èr Hào; lit. 'Expedition Two'): New version used with the 5.2 m (17 ft) Long March 5 upper stage.[9]
  • Yuanzheng-3 (AKA YZ-3) (Chinese: 远征三号; pinyin: Yuǎn Zhēng Sān Hào; lit. 'Expedition Three'): New version used with the Long March 2D.

References

  1. "New Launch". www.casc11.com (in Chinese). Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute. 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  2. Norbert Bgügge. "Photo Gallery CZ-3CE". B14643.DE. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  3. Kun, Ma; Wu, Guo; Song, Guan; Zhibin, Ma; Tongyu, Li (2013). "上面级发展现状及趋势分析" [Development Status and Trend Analysis of Upper Stages]. Missiles and Space Vehicles (in Chinese). No.6 2013 (329): 24–28. doi:10.7654/j.issn.1004-7182.20130606 (inactive 1 August 2023).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of August 2023 (link)
  4. Norbert Bgügge. "YZ-1 space tug". B14643.DE. Archived from the original on August 25, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  5. "长征七号首飞成功 空间实验室任务大幕拉开" [Successful maiden flight of the Long March 7 mission Damulakai]. www.spacechina.com (in Chinese). 2016-06-25. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  6. "升级版的中国"太空摆渡车"将带来什么?" [What will enable the upgraded space bus?]. www.chinanews.com (in Chinese). 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  7. "远征一号上面级" [Yuanzheng-1 Upper Stage]. www.chinaspaceflight.com (in Chinese). 2016-06-07. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  8. "远征一号甲上面级(YZ-1A)" [Yuanzheng-1A Upper Stage (YZ-1)]. www.chinaspaceflight.com (in Chinese). 2016-06-26. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  9. "远征二号上面级:今年发射的"长征五号"火箭将启用新研制上面级"远征二号"" [Yuanzheng-2 upper stage: this year's launch of the Long March 5 rocket upper stage will enable the development of new "Yuanzheng-2"]. www.chinaspaceflight.com (in Chinese). 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
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