Long March 3B – Spaceflight Now

China’s first launch of 2020 lofts mystery payload

January 7, 2020

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched a satellite Tuesday toward a position in geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth. Chinese state media claimed the mysterious spacecraft has a communication and television broadcast mission, but analysts believe it could enter service for the Chinese military.

China completes core of Beidou global satellite navigation system

December 16, 2019

Two Chinese Beidou navigation satellites successfully launched Monday on top of a Long March 3B rocket, completing the core of China’s independent positioning and timing network ahead of the start of global service next year.

China launches two more Beidou navigation satellites

November 23, 2019

Maintaining a rapid-fire launch cadence to close out the year, China added two more Beidou satellites to its independent positioning, navigation and timing fleet Saturday with a successful launch aboard a Long March 3B rocket.

Another Beidou satellite launched by China

November 4, 2019

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket successfully carried a new Beidou navigation satellite into orbit Monday, continuing a brisk launch cadence at the country’s launch sites.

China launches mysterious geostationary satellite

October 18, 2019

China successfully launched a satellite toward geostationary orbit Thursday aboard a Long March 3B rocket, but the spacecraft’s purpose remained a mystery.

Two more satellites launched into China’s Beidou navigation fleet

September 23, 2019

China added two more satellites to the country’s Beidou navigation fleet — an analog to the U.S. military’s GPS network — with a successful Long March 3B rocket launch Sunday.

Chinasat 18 communications satellite encounters problem after launch

August 20, 2019

A communications satellite designed to deliver broadband services to rural China, airline passengers and maritime vessels suffered “abnormalities” after separating from its Long March 3B launcher Monday, Chinese state media confirmed Tuesday.

China adds to Beidou fleet with Long March launch

June 24, 2019

Another satellite for China’s Beidou navigation network rocketed into orbit Monday on top of a Long March 3B launcher.

Beidou navigation satellite successfully launched by China

April 22, 2019

Another satellite to join the China’s independent global navigation network successfully launched Saturday from the mountainous Xichang spaceport in the southwest of the country.

China launches tracking and data relay satellite

March 31, 2019

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket delivered a new-generation tracking and data relay satellite to orbit Sunday to provide communications support for the country’s future human spaceflight missions and space station.