FSW-3 2

Launch data: Designation  28402 / 04033A Launch date  29 Aug 2004 - 07:50 UT Launch site  Jiuquan Launch vehicle  CZ-2C (S/N: CZ2C-25) Mission  photoreconnaissance / remote sensing Earth orbit on 3 Sep: Perigee / Apogee  167 x 553 km Inclination  63,00° Period  91,75 min

Mission details:

• Second flight of the "FSW-3" (unofficial western designator) Jianbing-4 satellite. It has been reported that the re-entry module will be recovered after ~27 days in orbit, the longest flight in the FSW programme. Initial orbit of the satellitenis reminiscent of those seen on the first three FSW-0 flights in 1975-1978; subsequent manoeuvres raised apogee to an altitude never seen before in the FSW programme; this is possibly linked to the planned operating lifetime.
  
• First flight of the "second batch" of the CZ-2C launch vehicles - here called CZ-2C2 - without a third stage added.
  
• The perigee altitude of ~165 x 170 km suggest that this satellite was undertaking a close-look imaging mission.
• The descent module was recovered in Sechuan Province, September 25.00 (23:55 GMT on September 24, 2004). The international designer was transferred to the FSW-3 2 equipment module which continued in orbit (mass ~2500 kg). The first to be catalogued orbital data for the equipment module on its own: September 25.10 63.00° 91.75min 168 x 552 km.
• It had been expected that the equipment module would perform an orbit-raising to extend its operating life, but on October 6 visual satellite observers reported that the module was "flashing", possibly indicating that altitude-control had been lost and the module was tumbling in orbit.