Function Carrier rocket Country of origin China Diameter 3.35 metres (11.0 ft) | Manufacturer CALT Height 44.1 metres (145 ft) | |
Mass 249,200 kilograms (549,400 lb) | ||
The Long March 4B (Chinese: 长征四号乙火箭), also known as the Chang Zheng 4B, CZ-4B and LM-4B is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. Launched from Launch Complex 1 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, it is a 3-stage rocket, used mostly to place satellites into low Earth and sun synchronous orbits. It was first launched on 10 May 1999, with the FY-1C weather satellite, which would later be used in the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test.
The Chang Zheng 4B experienced its first launch failure on 9 December 2013, with the loss of the CBERS-3 satellite.
CBERS-3 launch failure
On December 9, 2013, a Long March 4B rocket failed while launching the CBERS-3 satellite. During powered flight of the third stage, one of its two engines shut down prematurely and the satellite failed to reach orbit. The cause was traced to foreign debris that blocked the fuel intake of the engine.