Function Carrier rocket Country of origin China Diameter 3.35 metres (11.0 ft) | Manufacturer SAST Height 45.8 metres (150 ft) | |
Mass 250,000 kilograms (550,000 lb) | ||
The Long March 4C, also known as the Chang Zheng 4C, CZ-4C and LM-4C, previously designated Long March 4B-II, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is launched from the Jiuquan and Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centres, and consists of 3 stages. Long March 4C vehicles have been used to launch the Yaogan-1, Yaogan-3 SAR satellites and the Fengyun-3A polar orbiting meteorological satellite. On December 15, 2009 a Long March 4C was used to launch Yaogan 8.
Because it was still designated as Long March 4B-II at the time of its maiden flight, the first launch is often mistaken for a Long March 4B. The Long March 4C is derived from the Long March 4B, but features a restartable upper stage, and a larger payload fairing.
On September 1, 2016, the Long March-4C (Chang Zheng-4C) failed for reasons not yet known. A Long March 4C rocket blasted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi but failed to insert its payload, the Gaofen-10 satellite, into its designated orbit.