Weilai 1 (Future 1)

Launch data: Designation  F01530 / 18F02 Launch date  27 Oct 2018 - 08:00 UT Launch site  Jiuquan, SLS-E2 Launch vehicle  Zhuque-1 (Landspace) Mission  Technology, earth observation Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  -3090? x 334 km Inclination  97.6° Decay  27 Oct 2018

Credit: Landspace

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• Weilai 1 (Future 1) is a small satellite for space science experiments and remote sensing by CCTV (China Central Television).

Mission details:

• The first orbital launch attempt by the private Chinese company Landspace failed to reach orbit. The three-stage Zhuque-1, named after the Vermillion Bird from Chinese mythology, lifted off from a mobile platform at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China, at 4 a.m. Eastern (4 p.m. local time).
• The first two stages, believed to be based on the DF-26 missile, operated correctly. The third stage ignited but at 37 s into its burn, 6m 42s after launch, it lost attitude control, and so provided little net velocity increase. As a result, the third stage and payload reached a suborbital apogee of 337 km and fell back to Earth, impacting west of Sumatra about 15 min after launch.
• Landspace CEO Zhang Changwu confirmed to press at the site following the launch.

External links:

• Spacenews: Satellite Information
• Spacenews: Launch satellite
• Spacenews: Rocket information