China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 2F/GLaunch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Tiangong-2
Launched
September 15, 2016
Image: Xinhua
Summary
Tiangong-2 launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2F/G from Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China on September 15, 2016. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 182nd launch, 14th this year and humanity's 5,588th orbital launch attempt. It was the 5th Long March 2F/G flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Tiangong 2, one of 8 catalogued objects, reached a 204 × 341 km orbit inclined 42.8°. 8 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- China successfully launches Tiangong2 space lab from Jiuquan Satellite Launch CenterPeople's Daily, China 人民日报
- Up close! GoPro video of China's launch of space labNew China TV
- CCTV Reporter Shoots Tiangong-2 Launch 100 Meters AwayCCTV Video News Agency
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Human Exploration · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 5th Long March 2F/G flight · 1st this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 182nd launch14th this yearhumanity's 5,588th orbital launch attempt59th orbital launch attempt this year
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Tiangong 2 · NORAD 41765 · 2016-057 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 8 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2016-057A
- Epoch
- 2016-09-15 18:11:58 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.03228358 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0102671
- Inclination
- 42.7864°
- Ascending node
- 195.5048°
- Arg. of perigee
- 129.9306°
- Mean anomaly
- 231.1176°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 4
- 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
8 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 rocket stage, 1 debris, 4 components; none still in orbit
- Tiangong 2 · NORAD 41765 · deorbited July 19, 2019
- BX-2 · NORAD 41834 · re-entered July 15, 2019
CZ-2F T2 Stage 2 · re-entered September 29, 2016
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
China's second space station, Tiangong-2 is tasked to verify key technologies such as cargo transportation, on-orbit propellant resupply, and a medium-term stay of astronauts. It will also carry an array of scientific experiments, and will be equipped with a robotic arm to help the assembly and maintenance of the station.
Pad
Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
12th launch from Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), 1st this year · 87th from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
29 launches from this pad · 299 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
about 3 years after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Questions
When did Tiangong-2 launch?
Tiangong-2 launched on September 15, 2016. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Tiangong-2?
Coverage: China successfully launches Tiangong2 space lab from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center; Up close! GoPro video of China's launch of space lab; CCTV Reporter Shoots Tiangong-2 Launch 100 Meters Away. Watch the replay
What rocket launched Tiangong-2?
Long March 2F/G, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 2F/G spec sheet
Where did Tiangong-2 launch from?
Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China.
What orbit did Tiangong-2 reach?
Tiangong 2, one of 8 catalogued objects, reached a 204 × 341 km orbit inclined 42.8°.
How many satellites did Tiangong-2 launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, none of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).