XJS 6 (XJY 6?)

Launch data:

Spacecraft data:

Mission details:

• The first Chang Zheng 7A failed to reach orbit on Mar 16, 2020 sometime after second stage ignition. It&prime:s unclear whether the failure was in the third stage′s first burn, or possibly due to a second stage explosion.
• Planned parking orbit was 195 x 195 km x 20 deg; a second burn of the third stage would have delivered CAST/Beijing′s XJS-6 (Xinjishu Yanzheng 6, New Technology Validation Satellite) to geotransfer orbit. The XJS-6 wassomething similar to a DFH-5 communications satellite, of order 5 tonnes mass. The CZ-7A combines the earlier CZ-7 vehicle with a hydrogen/oxygen upper stage from the CZ-3 series.
• This failure may casting doubt on planned flights by the country′s other launchers that use similar engines.