Long March 2F

Differences from the Long March 2E

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.

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.

Derivatives

file:CZ-2F rendering.jpg|Long March 2 F/G version file:CZ-2FT rendering.jpg|Long March 2 F/T version

A derivative called Long March 2F/G, first launched in 2011, was made to replace the existing 2F variant. For uncrewed launches, Long March 2F/T was designed, which launched space laboratories such as Tiangong-1 and Tiangong-2. It dispenses with the launch escape system and supports a larger fairing to accommodate the bulkier payloads. For launching payloads like reusable experimental spacecraft, the Long March 2F/G's fairing has bumps added to enclose parts of the payload (such as wingtips) without using a larger fairing.{{cite tweet|user=CNSpaceflight |number=1558812459544129536 |title= 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... |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814200103/https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1558812459544129536 |archive-date=2022-08-14 |url-status=live }}

Vibration issues

During the Shenzhou 5 flight, Yang Liwei became unwell due to heavy vibrations from the rocket. Although the problem was reduced somewhat by modifications to the rocket, vibrations were reported again in Shenzhou 6 necessitating further changes. According to Jing Muchun, chief designer of the Long March 2F "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%". During the launch preparations for the Shenzhou 14 mission chief designer Gao Xu said incremental improvements made to the rocket's design mean vibrations felt by the taikonauts would be similar to that felt in a car driven on a highway.

The predecessor Long March 2E had also been known for vibration. During two launches, excessive vibration caused the collapse of the payload fairing, destroying the Optus B2 and Apstar 2 satellites. After the payload fairing was redesigned, excessive vibration also damaged the AsiaSat 2 satellite during launch. After its successful launch of the Echostar 1 satellite on 28 December 1995 the rocket was officially retired from service.

File:CZ-2F.svg|Long March 2F rocket schematics File:Shenzhou-12 roll out 02.png|The Long March 2F rocket with folded grid fins carrying Shenzhou 12 mission spacecraft, inscribed with "Divine Arrow" (神箭) in Chinese File:Launch of Shenzhou 13.jpg|Launch of Shenzhou 13 File:1分钟回顾神舟十五号载人飞船发射2.png|Shenzhou 15 before liftoff

Launch statistics

List of launches

Main article: List of Long March launches

References

References

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10. Jones, Morris. (2016-01-27). "Last Launch for Long March 2F/G". Space Daily.
11. "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.".
12. "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。".
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14. (5 June 2022). "Improvements make Shenzhou-14 spaceship safer and more comfortable".
15. (2014). "An Overreaction that Destroyed an Industry: The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Satellite Export Controls". University of Colorado Law Review.
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17. Huang, Jin. (8 March 2016). "Why will Shenzhou-11 carry only two astronauts to space?". People's Daily Online.
18. (September 4, 2020). "我国成功发射可重复使用试验航天器". Xinhuanet.
19. "Experimental spaceplane - CZ-2F - Jiuquan LC43/91 - Sept. 4 2020 (~07:30 UTC)".
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22. "Experimental spaceplane (F2) - CZ-2F/T4 - JSLC LC43/91 - 4 Aug 2022 ~16:00 UTC".
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25. (14 December 2023). "China launches mystery reusable spaceplane for third time".