China’s Long March 4C rocket launches two satellites
China today launched two experimental technology satellites, using its Long March 4C rocket from an interior spaceport.
The launch pictures, as captured on the right, show what appear to be panels falling off the rocket as it lifts off. Note how some of these falling panels are red, while the Chinese flag at the top of the rocket appears to be partly broken off in the later picture. The fairing and shell of the upper stage in the second picture also appear changed.
The Chinese state-run press claims the satellites reached orbit as planned, but these pictures suggest otherwise. If part of the fairing and outside of the upper stage fell off, there is a good chance the payload was damaged during max-q, the period soon after launch when rockets undergo the greatest stress in the Earth’s thicker atmosphere.
UPDATE from stringer Jay: Video of the launch. The panels continue to drop off for a considerable time.
Assuming this launch was a success, however, the 2022 launch race continues to heat up, with China vying to beat SpaceX after trailing the American company for most of the year.
58 China
56 SpaceX
21 Russia
9 Rocket Lab
8 ULA
The U.S. still leads China 80 to 58 in the national rankings, but trails the entire world combined 88 to 80.
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China today launched two experimental technology satellites, using its Long March 4C rocket from an interior spaceport.
The launch pictures, as captured on the right, show what appear to be panels falling off the rocket as it lifts off. Note how some of these falling panels are red, while the Chinese flag at the top of the rocket appears to be partly broken off in the later picture. The fairing and shell of the upper stage in the second picture also appear changed.
The Chinese state-run press claims the satellites reached orbit as planned, but these pictures suggest otherwise. If part of the fairing and outside of the upper stage fell off, there is a good chance the payload was damaged during max-q, the period soon after launch when rockets undergo the greatest stress in the Earth’s thicker atmosphere.
UPDATE from stringer Jay: Video of the launch. The panels continue to drop off for a considerable time.
Assuming this launch was a success, however, the 2022 launch race continues to heat up, with China vying to beat SpaceX after trailing the American company for most of the year.
58 China
56 SpaceX
21 Russia
9 Rocket Lab
8 ULA
The U.S. still leads China 80 to 58 in the national rankings, but trails the entire world combined 88 to 80.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in the past two weeks has the mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuses to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
Right now the Chinese techs are damning the cheap Indian screws they used to hold those panels on.
Robert,
I am surprised you did not know of the innovative Chinese booster-return technology. Parts deemed unnecessary at a particular stage of flight are jettisoned, later to be recovered and reassembled. Lift mass is also reduced as the rocket ascends.
I have long been under the impression that these panels are insulation that is supposed to come off in the early part of flight. However, in an attempt to confirm this, I am finding confusing explanations, such as that they are coverings and some explanations suggest that they are used only at certain times of the year (e.g. colder times).
No matter what they are, they are part of the intended launch and their presence in the space around the rocket at launch does not affect the safety of the payload or the success of the launch.
On the other hand, Chinese citizens still need to keep an eye on the sky whenever there is a launch of a Chinese rocket:
https://wccftech.com/chinese-rocket-part-falls-on-house-soon-after-fiery-launch/
I had honestly thought Blair Ivey was being sarcastic, but apparently Edward confirms this method by the Chinese to lower weight on launch. I had never heard of it before. Thank you.
I was being sarcastic, so can take no credit for this revelation. Art imitates life imitates art.
The Chinese sure have a trashy space program. Maybe Western launch companies should play up the environmental-friendliness of their products.
> Chinese techs are damning the cheap Indian screws they used
Now Commie China is experiencing problems from counterfeit components.
Karma.
You would think that if they were designed to fall of they would do so in a more organized manner.
You would also think they would not go through the effort of paining them all fancy before they come off.