Failure
Optus B2
Communications
Ministry of Aerospace Industry(CASC)Government
Long March 2E
Direct-GEOorbit
Australian communications satellite built by Hughes Space and Communications Company in California.
Monday, December 21, 1992 at 11:21 AM
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#3,780
CASC Mission
#13
Pad Launch
#3
Location Launch
#11
Designator
1992-090
Launch Window
NET
Dec 21, 1992, 11:21 AM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Status Details
Failure Reason
Structural failure of payload fairing or satellite 48 seconds after launch destroyed the satellite. The launcher continued its flight to low earth orbit, where it successfully jettisoned the debris. The cause of the failure has never been identified with certainty.
Long March 2E Specs
The Long March 2E is a斯expendable launch vehicle made and operated by China. It is a two stage launch vehicle with storable propellants, consisting of Nitrogen Tetroxide and Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine, augmented by 4 liquid fuel boosters using the same fuel.
Length
49.686 m
Diameter
7.85 m
Launch Mass
462 t
Thrust
5,923 kN
LEO Capacity
9,200 kg
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
1990
Fastest Turnaround
1mo
Total Launches
7
Successful
5
Failed
2
Consecutive Success
2
Maiden flight: Jul 16, 1990
Ministry of Aerospace Industry
Chinese governmental entity in charge of space research from July 1988 to June 1993.
Founded
1988
Total Launches
13
Successful
11
Failed
2
Pending
0
Consecutive Success
0
Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
The Xichang Satellite Launch Center is a spaceport in China. It is located in Zeyuan Town, northwest of Xichang, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan.
Timezone
Asia/Shanghai
Local Launch Time
Dec 21, 1992, 7:21 PM
Total Launches
239
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
28.2460, 102.0266