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CZ-4 Space Launch Vehicle

The third currently operational series in the CZ family is the CZ-4 (also referred to as the CZ-4A) which to date has been employed only twice for inserting payloads into sun-synchronous orbits. Both flights in September of 1988 and 1990, respectively, lofted the PRC's first domestic meteorological satellite Feng Yun-1. The CZ-4 is a 3-stage launch vehicle carrying UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide for all stages. The CZ-4 first stage uses the same power plant as the CZ-3A but is nearly two meters taller. Likewise, the CZ-4 second stage is similar to that of the CZ-3A. The CZ-4 third stage is a specially designed unit powered by the YF-40 main engine. The payload capacity of the CZ-4 into a sun-synchronous orbit is cited as 2.5 metric tons (References 159, 189-190).

LM-4 (China)

Background Information First Launch: 1988 Flight Rate: 2-3 per year? Launch Site: Taiyun Space Launch Center, China Capability: History Chinese rocket program started in the late 1950s Evolved from Chinese surface-to-surface series IRBMs LM-4A is a three-stage version of the LM-2D Description Three-stage liquid fueled vehicle Stage 1 consists of four YF-20 motors burning UDMH/N2O4 providing a total thrust of 626,000 lb Stage 2 uses one YF-22 engine and four YF-23 verniers burning UDMH/N2O4 for a total thrust of 171,300 lb Stage 3 uses one YF-40 burning UDMH/N2O4 Profile Length: 131 ft Launch Weight: 421,000 lb Diameter: 11 ft Liftoff Thrust: 626,000 lb Payload Fairing: 31.0 ft x 11.0 ft

159. Zhao Bing, "A System Analysis of the Launch Vehicle Technology in China", Paper 92-824, 43rd Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, August-September 1992.

189. LM-4 Launch Vehicle, specification sheet distributed by China Great Wall Industry Corp., 1992.

190. Long March-4, specification sheet distributed by China Great Wall Industry Corp., 1991.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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