The Long March 7 (Chinese: 长征系列运载火箭 7), or Chang Zheng 7 as in pinyin, abbreviated LM-7 for export or CZ-7 within China, is a Chinese liquid-fuelled carrier rocket, which is being developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
As one of the new generation rocket family of Long March 5, Long March 6 and Long March 7, it is to be a medium-heavy launch vehicle, fits the gap between the heavy Long March 5 family and the small-mid Long March 6 family.
The structure will be based on the reliable man-rated Long March 2F rocket, Thus it will inherate the 3.35m-diameter core stage and 2.25-diameter liquid rocket boosters. However, it will use LOX/kerosene fuel instead of expensive and dangerous N2O4/UDMH fuels used in previous Long March 2 rocket family. The new engines is borrowed from the engines developed for Long March 5, similar to Long March 6. The target is to build a more cost-effective and environment friendly rocket family to replace today's Long March 2 and potentially Long March 3 serial to satisfy both domestic and international launch market needs.[2] It will be capable of placing 5,500 kilograms (12,000 lb) of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit.[3]
With payloads in the range of 10-20 tons cited, it is likely to be use two YF-100 first-stage engines at the 1st core stage, while one YF-100 engines of each of its 4 liquid rocket boosters.[4][5]
Bradley Perrett from Aviation Week writes that the description of Long March 7 corresponds with the mid-sized launcher that the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology detailed in 2007. The configuration displayed then had the two K3 core modules, four K2 boosters and a special 3-meter-dia. module, H3, that would presumably be an optional third stage for missions beyond low Earth orbit. But the range of payloads quoted for Long March 7, 10-20 tons, shows that it would be built with a variety of booster combinations. A single YF-100 would presumably provide second-stage propulsion.[6]
References [edit]
- ^ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/30/content_14354558.htm
- ^ SINA News Sina, 19 November 2010, [1]
- ^ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/30/content_14354558.htm
- ^ Bradley Perrett, Aviation Week, 15 March 2010, Longer Marches
- ^ Bradley Perrett, Aviation Week, 5 March 2010, [2]
- ^ Bradley Perrett, Aviation Week, 15 March 2010, Longer Marches
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- ‡ – Falcon 1 and 9 were designed for partial reuse, which was never achieved and has now been abandoned, however a fully-reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy are under long-term development.
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People's Republic of China
