Long March 3C

Rendering of Long March 3C
FunctionLaunch vehicle
ManufacturerCALT
Country of originChina
Size
Height
  • 3C: 54.8 m (180 ft) [1]
  • 3C/E: 55.64 m (182.5 ft) [2]
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft) [1]
Mass345,000 kg (761,000 lb)
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass3C: 8,000 kg (18,000 lb) [3]
3C/E: 8,000 kg (18,000 lb)[2]
Payload to GTO
Mass3C: 3,800 kg (8,400 lb) [4][5]
3C/E: 3,900 kg (8,600 lb)
Payload to HCO
Mass2,400 kg (5,300 lb) [4][5]
Associated rockets
FamilyLong March
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesXSLC, LA-2 and LA-3
Total launches18
Success(es)18
First flight
  • 3C: 25 April 2008
  • 3C/E: 23 October 2014
Last flight
  • 3C: 1 February 2016
  • 3C/E: 6 July 2021
Type of passengers/cargo
Boosters (3C)
No. boosters2
Height15.33 m (50.3 ft)
Diameter2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Propellant mass37,700 kg (83,100 lb)
Powered by1 YF-25
Maximum thrust740.4 kN (166,400 lbf)
Specific impulse2,556.2 m/s (8,386 ft/s)
Burn time127 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Boosters (3C/E)
No. boosters2
Height16.1 m (53 ft)
Diameter2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Propellant mass41,100 kg (90,600 lb)
Powered by1 YF-25
Maximum thrust740.4 kN (166,400 lbf)
Specific impulse2,556.2 m/s (8,386 ft/s)
Burn time140 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
First stage (3C)
Height23.27 m (76.3 ft)
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Propellant mass171,800 kg (378,800 lb)
Powered by4 YF-21C
Maximum thrust2,961.6 kN (665,800 lbf)
Specific impulse2,556.5 m/s (8,387 ft/s)
Burn time145 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
First stage (3C/E)
Height24.76 m (81.2 ft)
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Propellant mass186,200 kg (410,500 lb)
Powered by4 YF-21C
Maximum thrust2,961.6 kN (665,800 lbf)
Specific impulse2,556.5 m/s (8,387 ft/s)
Burn time158 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Second stage
Height12.92 m (42.4 ft)
Diameter3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Propellant mass49,400 kg (108,900 lb)
Powered by1 YF-24E (YF-22E (Main)
4 x YF-23C (Vernier))
Maximum thrust742 kN (167,000 lbf) (Main)
47.1 kN (10,600 lbf) (Vernier)
Specific impulse2,922.57 m/s (9,588.5 ft/s) (Main)
2,910.5 m/s (9,549 ft/s) (Vernier)
Burn time185 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Third stage
Height12.38 m (40.6 ft)
Diameter3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Propellant mass18,200 kg (40,100 lb)
Powered by2 × YF-75
Maximum thrust167.17 kN (37,580 lbf)
Specific impulse4,295 m/s (14,090 ft/s)
Burn time487 seconds
PropellantLH2 / LOX
Fourth stage (optional) – YZ-1
Powered by1 × YF-50D
Maximum thrust6.5 kN (1,500 lbf)
Specific impulse315.5 s (3.094 km/s)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH

The Long March 3C (simplified Chinese: 长征三号丙火箭; traditional Chinese: 長征三號丙火箭; pinyin: Chángzhēng Sānhào Bǐng Huǒjiàn), also known as the Changzheng 3C, CZ-3C and LM-3C, is a Chinese orbital launch vehicle. It is launched from Launch Complex 2 and 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC). A three-stage rocket with two strapon liquid rocket boosters, it is a member of the Long March 3 rocket family, and was derived from the Long March 3B. It was designed to fill a gap in payload capacities between the Long March 3A and 3B.

  1. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "CZ-3C". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Long March 3C/E | Tianlian 1D". Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Long March 3C | Chang'e 2". Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "LM-3A Series Launch Vehicle User's Manual - Issue 2011" (PDF). China Great Wall Industries Corporation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b Gunter Krebs. "CZ-3C (Chang Zheng-3C)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2008.