LM-2C Launched Yaogan 30-05 Group Satellites

Grid fins on LM-2C to test the spent rocket drop zone safety control technology.

China launched three Yaogan 30-05 group satellites with a LM-2C launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 11：57 Beijing time on July 26.The 3 satellites entered the preset orbits successfully.

The LM-2C launch vehicle which carried out the mission was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).It is the first carrier rocket that has performed launch missions from all three inland launch sites in China.This flight is the first mission of LM-2C in 2019.

The accurate landing site control of the rocket first stage became a highlight of this LM-2C mission.The debris of the first stage of LM-2C were found in the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture,Guizhou Province at 13：40 Beijing time,within the designated drop zone area,marking the success of China’s first spent rocket drop zone safety control technology test using grid fins and being the second country to master the technology following the United States of America.This is a major breakthrough for China enabling controllable drop zone and precise recovery,which is a solid step toward reusable launch vehicles.

The Yaogan 30-05 group satellites were developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of CAS for electromagnetic detection and related technology demonstration using satellite constellation.

The launch mission is the 54th flight of the LM-2C series of launch vehicles,as well as the 308th mission of the Long March series launch vehicle.(TANG Mingjun/China Space News)