The CZ-1 (also known as Long March 1) is the first in a family of Long March rockets (Traditional Chinese: 長征系列運載火箭; Simplified Chinese: 长征系列运载火箭; pinyin: Chángzhēng xìliè yùnzài huǒjiàn). It is the first expendable launch system operated by the People's Republic of China (PRC). It is named after the Long March of Chinese communist history.
The early CZ-1 used previous technology developed for the DF-3 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), a single-stage liquid-propulsion rocket that used inertial guidance. Later, an upgrade to solid propusion was accomplished before the model was obsoleted.
The PRC launched its first satellite, known as Dong Fang Hong 1 (translated, "the East is Red") into Earth orbit on with this rocket on April 24, 1970. This made them the fifth nation to achieve independent launch capability. Both launches of the CZ-1 originated from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in the Gobi desert, Ejina Banner, Alashan League, Inner Mongolia, located about 1,600 km from Beijing.
You can see the evolution of the Long March series here at the Museum, as well as view an illustration of the technical specifications shown in the front of the exhibit.
For more information:
- http://www.astronautix.com/lvfam/lonmarch.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuquan_Satellite_Launch_Center
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March_1
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_program_of_China#Launch_vehicles
Author(s): Leonard Churchill (2007 January 19)
