Wikipedia

Long March 2F

The Long March 2F (Chinese: 长征二号F火箭; Changzheng 2F), also known as the CZ-2F and LM-2F,[1] is a Chinese human-rated two-stage hypergolic-fuelled medium-lift launch vehicle, part of the Long March 2 rocket family. Launching the Shenzhou spacecraft on all 22 flights of the Shenzhou program, it is one of three orbital rockets worldwide to have launched multiple crews, alongside Russia's Soyuz-2 and the US Falcon 9.

Long March 2F
The Long March 2F rocket with Shenzhou 13 spacecraft mounted on the top
FunctionMedium-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerChina Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
Country of originChina
Size
Height62 m (203 ft)[1]
Diameter3.35 m (11 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, LA-4/SLS-1
Total launches28
Success(es)28
First flight19 November 1999
Last flight7 February 2026 (most recent)
Carries passengers or cargoShenzhou
Tiangong-1
Tiangong-2
Reusable experimental spacecraft
Boosters
No. boosters4
Height15.33 m (50.3 ft)
Diameter2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Empty mass3,200 kg (7,100 lb)
Gross mass41,000 kg (90,000 lb)
Powered by1 × YF-20B per booster
Maximum thrust816.285 kN (183,508 lbf)
Total thrust3,265.14 kN (734,030 lbf)
Specific impulse261 s (2.56 km/s)
Burn time
  • 2F: 128 seconds
  • 2F/G & 2F/T: 153 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
First stage
Height23.7 m (78 ft)
Empty mass9,500 kg (20,900 lb)
Gross mass196,500 kg (433,200 lb)
Powered by4 × YF-20B
Maximum thrust3,265.143 kN (734,033 lbf)
Specific impulse
  • SL: 261 s (2.56 km/s)
  • vac: 289 s (2.83 km/s)
Burn time166 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Second stage
Height15.52 m (50.9 ft)
Empty mass5,500 kg (12,100 lb)
Gross mass91,500 kg (201,700 lb)
Powered by1 × YF-24B
Maximum thrust831.005 kN (186,817 lbf)
Specific impulse298 s (2.92 km/s)
Burn time295 seconds
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
[edit on Wikidata]

The Long March 2F is a two-stage version of the Long March 2E rocket, which in turn was based on the Long March 2C launch vehicle.[2] The rocket is entirely fuelled by the hypergolic mixture of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and dinitrogen tetroxide. The first stage is powered by four YF-20B engines, as well as four boosters each with one such engine; the second stage uses one YF-24 engine.

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, Chinese President Jiang Zemin named the rocket Shenjian (神箭, lit. 'Divine Arrow').[3]

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 twenty more missions into orbit with the latest being the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft.[4][5][6][7] Since 2021, it provides crew access to the Tiangong space station. The rocket launched the prototype space stations of the Tiangong program: Tiangong-1 (crewed 2012 and 2013) and Tiangong-2 (crewed 2016). The Long March 2F is also the launch vehicle for the clandestine Chinese reusable experimental spaceplane.

Differences from the Long March 2E

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Externally, the rocket is similar to the Long March 2E from which it was derived. Most of the changes involve the addition of redundant systems to improve safety, although there are some structural modifications that allow the rocket to support the heavier fairing required by the Shenzhou capsule. The rocket is also capable of lifting heavier payloads with the addition of extra boosters to the first stage.[8]

The rocket also has an "advanced fault monitoring and diagnosis system to help the astronauts escape in time of emergency" (in other words, a launch escape system), and is the first Chinese made rocket to be assembled and rolled out to its launch site vertically.[9]

Derivatives

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The Long March 2F/G and Long March 2F/T are improved variants of the Long March 2F. Development of the upgraded versions was approved in 2004,[10] and first launched on 29 September 2011 carrying Tiangong-1.

The improved variants introduced extensive changes to the rocket's core systems.[11] The booster propellant tanks were redesigned with conical upper sections instead of elliptical domes, increasing propellant capacity and improving low Earth orbit performance. Booster separation was also delayed from 140 seconds after liftoff to 153 seconds, shortly before first-stage separation.[12][13]

The Long March 2F/G variant has been used for all Shenzhou missions since Shenzhou 8 and retains the launch escape system.[14] The Long March 2F/T variant was developed for uncrewed missions including Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2. It omits the escape tower and uses a larger 4.2-metre (14 ft) payload fairing to accommodate larger spacecraft.[14] It has also been used to launch the Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft, where it uses a special fairings with bulges to accommodate portions of the payload without requiring a larger overall fairing.[15][16][17]

The Long March 2F/G has a length of 58.34 metres (191.4 ft), a liftoff mass of 479.8 tonnes (1,058,000 lb), a 3.8-metre (12 ft) fairing diameter, and a low Earth orbit payload capacity of 8.15 tonnes (18,000 lb).[14] The Long March 2F/T has a length of 52.03 metres (170.7 ft), a liftoff mass of 493.1 tonnes (1,087,000 lb), a 4.2-metre (14 ft) fairing diameter, and a low Earth orbit payload capacity of 8.6 tonnes (19,000 lb).[14]

Beginning with the Shenzhou 12 mission, the Long March 2F/G entered a dual-vehicle standby mode at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to support emergency crew-return requirements during construction and operation of the Tiangong space station. Under this arrangement, one launch vehicle remained prepared as a backup while another was assigned to the scheduled mission. Preparation time was later reduced from 49 days for Shenzhou 12 to 35 days by Shenzhou 15.[10]

Vibration issues

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During the Shenzhou 5 mission, Yang Liwei experienced discomfort caused by heavy vibration during launch. Although later modifications reduced the problem, vibrations were again reported during Shenzhou 6, leading to additional design changes. According to Long March 2F chief designer Jing Muchun, "We made changes to the pipelines of the rocket engine, adjusting its frequency. A new design for the pressure accumulator produced evident results. The vibration has now been reduced by more than 50%".[18] During launch preparations for the Shenzhou 14 mission, chief designer Gao Xu stated that incremental design improvements had reduced vibration levels experienced by taikonauts to those comparable to riding in a car on a highway.[19]

The Long March 2E rocket on which the 2F was based, also experienced vibration-related problems. During two launches, excessive vibration caused the collapse of the payload fairing, destroying the Optus B2 and Apstar 2 satellites.[20] Even after the payload fairing was redesigned, excessive vibration damaged the AsiaSat 2 satellite during launch. The Long March 2E rocket was retired from service on 28 December 1995.[21]

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Launch statistics

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1
2
3
1999
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
  •   Failure
  •   Partial failure
  •   Success
  •   Planned

List of launches

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See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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.
  8. ↑ "Long March 2F - Summary". spaceandtech.com. 20 November 1999. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  9. ↑ "ChangZheng 2F (Long March 2F) Space Launch Vehicle". www.sinodefence.com. 14 May 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2008.
  10. 1 2 "总书记回信一周年，对话三型火箭总设计师". 中国航天报. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "访改进型长征二号F火箭"两总":"神箭"成长记". 新华社. 15 June 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  12. ↑ 《鲁健访谈》 20211231 对话容易. CCTV. 31 December 2021. Event occurs at 5:44. Retrieved 4 March 2023 – via YouTube.
  13. ↑ "速览！神舟十五号载人飞行任务看点_中国载人航天官方网站". www.cmse.gov.cn. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "欲与"天宫"试比高——长征二号Ｆ运载火箭"同胞兄弟"助推中国载人航天". 新华社. 15 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  15. ↑ @CNSAWatcher (14 August 2022). "Fairing of CZ2F rocket which launched CSSHQ on Aug 5 being openly exhibited in Henan Jiyuan No.1 middle school. If the bumps are spare spaces for wings, CSSHQ's wingspan could be larger than fairing's diameter 4.2m" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 14 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ @Kedrskie (14 August 2022). "ミニシャトルを載せてたんでないかと噂されている、8/5に打ち上げられた長征2号F/T。そのフェアリングに大きな張り出しが設けられていて、シャトルの翼端を納める為のものでは？というツイート。張り出しの裏側が見えるコマを切り出して明度を上げると、確かに内側は空洞になってる。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 14 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ @CNSpaceflight (14 August 2022). "The leaked footage of #CZ2F fairing suggests the Chinese reusable spaceplane may be X-37B alike. 👇Here are some dimensions overlay (each floor brick measures ~600x600mm). The distance & angle between wings and tail fins "exactly" match that of X-37B. The fairing measures 4.2m..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 14 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  18. ↑ "New mission for CZ-2F rocket". China Central Television. 25 September 2008. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  19. ↑ "Improvements make Shenzhou-14 spaceship safer and more comfortable". 5 June 2022.
  20. ↑ Zinger, Kurtis J. (2014). "An Overreaction that Destroyed an Industry: The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Satellite Export Controls" (PDF). University of Colorado Law Review. 86 (1). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 June 2022.
  21. ↑ Harvey, Brian (2013). CZ-2E Space Launch Vehicle. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-5043-6. ISBN 978-1-4614-5042-9.
  22. ↑ Jones, Morris (27 January 2016). "Last Launch for Long March 2F/G". Space Daily. Retrieved 7 April 2016. The principal difference between the Shenzhou-launching Long March 2F and its 2F/G cousin is easy to spot. The 2F/G carries a very different payload fairing at its top. This accounts. for the larger dimensions of the Tiangong laboratory, which wouldn't fit inside the standard payload fairing for the 2F.
    It also lacks an emergency escape system. With no astronauts on board, the escape rocket and stabilizer panels that help Shenzhou spacecraft to separate from their rocket in a launch failure are not needed. This simplifies the design and also reduces the weight of the rocket. That's critical. Tiangong modules weigh more than Shenzhou spacecraft, so this helps to keep the overall launch mass within performance limits.
  23. ↑ Huang, Jin (8 March 2016). "Why will Shenzhou-11 carry only two astronauts to space?". People's Daily Online. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  24. 1 2 "我国成功发射可重复使用试验航天器" [My country successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft]. Xinhuanet. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  25. ↑ "Experimental spaceplane - CZ-2F - Jiuquan LC43/91 - Sept. 4 2020 (~07:30 UTC)".
  26. ↑ Davenport, Justin (15 October 2021). "Shenzhou 13 launch first long-duration Chinese Space Station crew". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  27. ↑ "长征二号F • 神舟十四号载人飞船（2022年待定）" [Long March 2F • Shenzhou-14 (2022 TBD)]. spaceflightfans.cn (in Chinese). 21 April 2021. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  28. ↑ "Experimental spaceplane (F2) - CZ-2F/T4 - JSLC LC43/91 - 4 Aug 2022 ~16:00 UTC".
  29. ↑ "我国成功发射可重复使用试验航天器". 5 August 2022.
  30. ↑ "长征二号F • 神舟十五号载人飞船（2022年待定）" [Long March 2F • Shenzhou-15 (2022 TBD)]. spaceflightfans.cn (in Chinese). 21 April 2021. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  31. ↑ "China launches mystery reusable spaceplane for third time". SpaceNews. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
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