Long March 2F

Long March 2F
The Long March 2F rocket with Shenzhou 13 spacecraft mounted on the top
FunctionCrew-rated orbital launch vehicle
ManufacturerChina Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
Country of originChina
Size
Height62 m (203 ft) [1]
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft) [1]
Mass464,000 kg (1,023,000 lb) [1]
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass8,400 kg (18,500 lb) [1]
Associated rockets
FamilyLong March 2
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesJiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Total launches24
Success(es)24
First flight19 November 1999
Last flight29 October 2024
Type of passengers/cargoShenzhou
Tiangong-1
Tiangong-2
Reusable experimental spacecraft
Boosters
No. boosters4
Height15.3 m (50 ft)
Diameter2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Empty mass3,200 kg (7,100 lb)
Gross mass41,000 kg (90,000 lb)
Powered by1 YF-20B per booster
Maximum thrust814 kN (183,000 lbf)
Total thrust3,256 kN (732,000 lbf)
Specific impulse291 s (2.85 km/s)
Burn time128 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
First stage
Height23.7 m (78 ft)
Diameter3.4 m (11 ft)
Empty mass9,500 kg (20,900 lb)
Gross mass196,500 kg (433,200 lb)
Powered by4 YF-20B
Maximum thrust3,256 kN (732,000 lbf)
Specific impulse291 s (2.85 km/s)
Burn time166 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Second stage
Height13.5 m (44 ft)
Diameter3.4 m (11 ft)
Empty mass5,500 kg (12,100 lb)
Gross mass91,500 kg (201,700 lb)
Powered by1 YF-24B
Maximum thrust831 kN (187,000 lbf)
Specific impulse289 s (2.83 km/s)
Burn time300 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH

The Long March 2F (Chinese: 长征二号F火箭 Changzheng 2F), also known as the CZ-2F, LM-2F and Shenjian (神箭, "Divine Arrow"),[1] is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket, part of the Long March 2 rocket family. Designed to launch crewed Shenzhou spacecraft, the Long March 2F is a human-rated two-stage version of the Long March 2E rocket, which in turn was based on the Long March 2C launch vehicle.[2] It is launched from complex SLS at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March 2F made its maiden flight on 19 November 1999, with the Shenzhou 1 spacecraft. After the flight of Shenzhou 3, CPC General Secretary and President Jiang Zemin named the rocket "Shenjian", meaning "Divine Arrow".[3]

On 29 December 2002, a Long March 2F launched Shenzhou 4 for a final uncrewed test of the Shenzhou spacecraft for the upcoming flight of the first crewed mission. Until then, all missions were uncrewed.

On 15 October 2003, a Long March 2F launched Shenzhou 5, China's maiden crewed mission and achieved its first human spaceflight. Since then, the rocket has launched nineteen more missions into orbit with the latest being the Shenzhou 19 spacecraft.[4][5][6][7]

  1. ^ a b c d e Mark Wade. "CZ-2F". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 17 March 2002. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  2. ^ "LM-2F - Launch Vehicle". CGWIC. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  3. ^ "CZ". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  4. ^ 刘光博, ed. (5 August 2022). "我国成功发射可重复使用试验航天器" (in Chinese). 新华社酒. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022.
  5. ^ "China launches 3 astronauts to oversee construction of new Tiangong space station". Space.com. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Shenzhou 13 astronauts begin China's longest mission ever at space station module (video)". Space.com. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  7. ^ "China to launch Shenzhou 7 spacecraft on Thursday". news.xinhuanet.com. English Xinhua. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2010.