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China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 5B101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Maiden Flight

Launched

May 5, 2020

Launch Successful
LM5B Maiden Flight Patch

Image: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Summary

Maiden Flight launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5B from 101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China on May 5, 2020. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 278th launch, 8th this year and humanity's 5,952nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 1st Long March 5B flight. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). XZF-SC, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 169 × 384 km orbit inclined 41.1°. 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.

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Vehicle
Long March 5B · China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Test Flight · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Milestone
1st Long March 5B flightChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 278th launch8th this yearhumanity's 5,952nd orbital launch attempt30th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

41.1°Inclination
169 × 384 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
89.9 minPeriodfrom mean elements
328.7°Ascending node
2354 d agoElement epoch2020-05-05 14:12 UTC · stale

XZF-SC · NORAD 45599 · 2020-027 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 3 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2020-027A
Epoch
2020-05-05 14:12:46 UTC
Mean motion
16.01696199 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0161864
Inclination
41.0882°
Ascending node
328.6996°
Arg. of perigee
167.7268°
Mean anomaly
256.0681°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
2
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage; none still in orbit

  • XZF-SC · NORAD 45599 · landed May 8, 2020
  • RCS-FC-SC · NORAD 45600 · deorbited May 7, 2020

CZ-5B Y1 Stage 1 · re-entered May 11, 2020

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

This is the maiden flight of Long March 5B rocket, which is to be used for delivering modules for China's new space station. This launch is also the first test flight for China's new generation crewed spacecraft.

Pad

Map of 101

101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

4th launch from 101, 1st this year · 7th from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

18 launches from this pad · 75 from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

129 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps

Questions

When did Maiden Flight launch?

Maiden Flight launched on May 5, 2020. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Maiden Flight?

Coverage: [直播回放]长征五号乙遥一火箭发射 [Replay]LongMarch-5B Y1 Mission. Watch the replay

What rocket launched Maiden Flight?

Long March 5B, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 5B spec sheet

Where did Maiden Flight launch from?

101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China.

What orbit did Maiden Flight reach?

XZF-SC, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 169 × 384 km orbit inclined 41.1°.

How many satellites did Maiden Flight launch?

2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, none of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).