Long March 3B – Spaceflight Now

China launches historic mission to land on far side of the moon

December 7, 2018

A robotic lander and rover lifted off Friday (U.S. time) from China’s Xichang space center, kicking off a journey that will culminate in an attempt in early January to touch down on the far side of the moon for the first time.

China expands reach of Beidou navigation network with another launch

November 19, 2018

Two more Beidou navigation satellites launched from China on Sunday, ending a record run of 18 satellite deployments this year for the Chinese alternative to GPS and placing the program on the cusp of expanding to full-time coverage over most of Asia, Africa and Europe.

China maintains launch pace with another Beidou mission

November 1, 2018

China chalked up another launch Thursday with the on-target delivery of a Beidou navigation satellite destined for an operating post in geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles over the equator.

China launches two more Beidou navigation satellites

October 15, 2018

A Long March 3B rocket carried two more Beidou navigation satellites into orbit Monday, the 14th and 15th Chinese navigation spacecraft launched this year.

Expansion of China’s Beidou satellite fleet continues with successful launch

September 20, 2018

Another successful launch Wednesday carried two more Beidou satellites into orbit, continuing a string of missions to push China’s independent navigation network closer to global coverage and adding international search-and-rescue support to the program’s portfolio.

China sets new national record for most launches in a year

August 27, 2018

Two navigation satellites joined China’s growing Beidou network with a successful rocket flight Friday that set a new record for the most Chinese space launches in a year.

Another pair of Chinese navigation satellites successfully launched

July 30, 2018

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched two satellites Sunday to become the eighth and ninth spacecraft added to the country’s Beidou navigation system so far this year.

Communications satellite launched from China to connect Asia-Pacific

May 4, 2018

A Chinese-built communications satellite owned by Hong Kong-based operator launched Thursday aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang space base in southwest China.

Two new satellites join China’s Beidou navigation fleet

March 29, 2018

Two Chinese Beidou navigation satellites launched Thursday, growing the country’s home-grown space-based GPS network nearly 14,000 miles above Earth.

China adds two more satellites to home-grown navigation network

February 12, 2018

Two more Chinese Beidou navigation satellites successfully lifted off aboard a Long March 3B rocket Monday on China’s seventh space launch in five weeks.