Long March 2A
Chinese carrier rocket used in the 1970s
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The Long March 2A, also known as the Chang Zheng 2A, CZ-2A and LM-2A, was a Chinese orbital carrier rocket that launched FSW-0 reconnaissance satellites. It was later replaced by the more capable Long March 4C. It was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
Long March 2A | |
| Function | Carrier rocket |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | CALT |
| Country of origin | China |
| Size | |
| Height | 32 metres (105 ft)[1] |
| Diameter | 3.35 metres (11.0 ft)[1] |
| Mass | 190,000 kilograms (420,000 lb)[1] |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb)[1] |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Long March |
| Derivative work | Long March 2C, 2E, 2F |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | LA-2/138, JSLC |
| Total launches | 4 |
| Success(es) | 3 |
| Failure | 1 |
| First flight | 5 November 1974 |
| Last flight | 26 January 1978 |
It launched from Launch Area 2B at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China. It was a 2-stage rocket that flew four times. On its first flight on 5 November 1974, a cable connecting the pitch rate control gyroscope to the guidance system became disconnected, resulting in a loss of control and launch failure.[2][3]
List of launches
| Flight number | Date (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 5, 1974 09:40 |
LA-2/138, JSLC | FSW-0 No.0 | LEO | Failure |
| 2 | November 16, 1975 03:29 |
LA-2/138, JSLC | FSW-0 No.1 | LEO | Success |
| 3 | December 7, 1976 04:38 |
LA-2/138, JSLC | FSW-0 No.2 | LEO | Success |
| 4 | January 26, 1978 04:58 |
LA-2/138, JSLC | FSW-0 No.3 | LEO | Success |