CZ-11

CZ-11 Hangar Processing Before Canister Loading

CZ-11 Erected in Launch Canister at Jiquan

Description:

• On September 25, 2015, China launched its first Chang Zheng (CZ) 11 - a four-stage solid fuel rocket - from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. CZ-11 boosted at least four small satellites into near-polar low earth orbit.
  CZ-11 launched at 01:41 UTC from a canister attached to a mobile transporter/erector in a manner similar to that used by Russia's retired Start-1 launch vehicle, which was itself based on Russia's Topol ICBM. The new launch vehicle was developed as a quick-reaction orbital launcher by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). The rocket is reportedly 20.8 meters long (other reports suggest 18.7 meters), and 2 meters in diameter with a 58 tonne launch mass and a 120 tonne liftoff thrust. CZ-11 may be able to lift 700 kg to sun synchronous orbit.
• CZ-11 may be based on the DF-31 series solid fuel ballistic missile already in China's inventory. The canister used to launch CZ-11 was similar to launch canisters used by the road-mobile DF-31A.
  CZ-11 appears to differ substantially from another quick-response solid fuel orbital launch vehicle named "Kuaizhou" ("Quick Vessel") that China began flying in 2013, also from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The first CZ-11 may, however, have been launched from a mobile pad at Jiuquan, the second of two built northeast of the CZ-2F launch site, that also hosted the second Kuazhou launch in 2014.