Kaituozhe-1 (KT-1) was small, solid fueled launch vehicle based on the road mobile DF-21 IRBM with an additional upper stage (in total 4 stages[1]). It was 13.6 meters in length and 1.4 meters in diameter, with launch mass of 20t. It was possible to launch KT-1 both from a truck-based platform or from airborne platform.[1] It had a 100 kg to LEO payload capacity. It was possibly the launch vehicle for a Chinese ASAT system that was tested against an old Chinese weather satellite in 2007.[2]
The vehicle has performed two flights, the first on 15 September 2002 and the second 16 September 2003. The first flight failed to place a 50 kg satellite into polar orbit due to a second stage malfunction. The second flight was also a failure, however Chinese officials declared some success citing the guidance systems, fairing separation and satellite-launcher separation as successful. The second launch sent the payload, PS-2 microsatellite (40 kg) into wrong orbit. The satellite completed barely one orbit before re-entering the atmosphere.[1]
The Kaituozhe-1 launcher appears to have been cancelled after two unsuccessful launches. A third (in 2004) and fourth launch have been rumored, but are not confirmed.[2][1]
The rocket had three variants: the Kaituozhe-1 (KT-1), the Kaituozhe-1A (KT-1A, originally designated KT-2, not to be confused with KT-2 below) and the Kaituozhe-1B (KT-1B, originally designated KT-2A, not to be confused with KT-2A below). The rockets that flew were of the KT-1 variant. The KT-1A and KT-1B variant rockets were not built.[1]
Kaituozhe-2edit
Like its predecessor the Kaituozhe-2 (KT-2) is a solid-fueled launch vehicle which could be based on the DF-31 missile.[3] Two versions have been proposed:[citation needed]
Kaituozhe-2edit
The Kaituozhe-2 (KT-2, AKA Kaituo-2) features a possibly DF-31 based stage 1, topped by a small diameter stage 2 and 3. It has reportedly a payload of 800 kg to low earth orbit.[4]
The maiden flight of the Kaituozhe-2[5] took place at 23:45 UTC on March 2, 2017, from Jiuquan (apparently from one of the two solid rocket launch pads[1]).[3][6] The rocket placed the Tiankun-1 (TK-1) satellite into polar orbit.[7]
The KT-2 is a rapid-response launcher; the rocket is capable of mobile-launch from a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicle.[1]
Kaituozhe-2Aedit
The Kaituozhe-2A (KT-2A) features a possibly DF-31 based stage 1, augmented by two DF-21 based strap-on boosters. It features a stage 2 with the same diameter as the stage 1 and the same smaller diameter stage 3 as the Kaituozhe-2. It has reportedly a payload of 2000 kg to low Earth orbit.[citation needed]
^Brügge, Norbert. "Kaituozhe KT-2". Spacerockets. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
^"Experimental Tiankun-1 lofted during secretive KT-2 launch". NASASpaceflight.com. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
^"China conducts secretive Debut Launch of Kaituozhe-2 Rocket – Spaceflight101".
December 15, 2023
kaituozhe, rocket, family, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, kaituozhe, rocket, family, news, newspape. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Kaituozhe rocket family news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Kaituozhe Chinese 开拓者 pinyin kai tuo zhe lit pioneer orKTrocket family is a series of launch vehicles built by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation CASC Contents 1 Kaituozhe 1 2 Kaituozhe 2 2 1 Kaituozhe 2 2 2 Kaituozhe 2A 3 See also 4 ReferencesKaituozhe 1 editKaituozhe 1 KT 1 was small solid fueled launch vehicle based on the road mobile DF 21 IRBM with an additional upper stage in total 4 stages 1 It was 13 6 meters in length and 1 4 meters in diameter with launch mass of 20t It was possible to launch KT 1 both from a truck based platform or from airborne platform 1 It had a 100 kg to LEO payload capacity It was possibly the launch vehicle for a Chinese ASAT system that was tested against an old Chinese weather satellite in 2007 2 The vehicle has performed two flights the first on 15 September 2002 and the second 16 September 2003 The first flight failed to place a 50 kg satellite into polar orbit due to a second stage malfunction The second flight was also a failure however Chinese officials declared some success citing the guidance systems fairing separation and satellite launcher separation as successful The second launch sent the payload PS 2 microsatellite 40 kg into wrong orbit The satellite completed barely one orbit before re entering the atmosphere 1 The Kaituozhe 1 launcher appears to have been cancelled after two unsuccessful launches A third in 2004 and fourth launch have been rumored but are not confirmed 2 1 The rocket had three variants the Kaituozhe 1 KT 1 the Kaituozhe 1A KT 1A originally designated KT 2 not to be confused with KT 2 below and the Kaituozhe 1B KT 1B originally designated KT 2A not to be confused with KT 2A below The rockets that flew were of the KT 1 variant The KT 1A and KT 1B variant rockets were not built 1 Kaituozhe 2 editLike its predecessor the Kaituozhe 2 KT 2 is a solid fueled launch vehicle which could be based on the DF 31 missile 3 Two versions have been proposed citation needed Kaituozhe 2 edit The Kaituozhe 2 KT 2 AKA Kaituo 2 features a possibly DF 31 based stage 1 topped by a small diameter stage 2 and 3 It has reportedly a payload of 800 kg to low earth orbit 4 The maiden flight of the Kaituozhe 2 5 took place at 23 45 UTC on March 2 2017 from Jiuquan apparently from one of the two solid rocket launch pads 1 3 6 The rocket placed the Tiankun 1 TK 1 satellite into polar orbit 7 The KT 2 is a rapid response launcher the rocket is capable of mobile launch from a transporter erector launcher TEL vehicle 1 Kaituozhe 2A edit The Kaituozhe 2A KT 2A features a possibly DF 31 based stage 1 augmented by two DF 21 based strap on boosters It features a stage 2 with the same diameter as the stage 1 and the same smaller diameter stage 3 as the Kaituozhe 2 It has reportedly a payload of 2000 kg to low Earth orbit citation needed See also editComparison of orbital launchers families Comparison of orbital launch systems Kuaizhou launcher Long March 6References edit a b c d e f g CASIC KT 2 lofts small satellite into orbit 3 March 2017 a b Kaituozhe 1 KT 1 space skyrocket de Retrieved 2017 03 03 a b Clark Stephen 3 March 2017 Small experimental satellite launched by new Chinese rocket Spaceflight Now Retrieved 7 March 2017 Kaituozhe 2 KT 2 space skyrocket de Retrieved 2017 03 03 Brugge Norbert Kaituozhe KT 2 Spacerockets Retrieved 14 February 2017 Experimental Tiankun 1 lofted during secretive KT 2 launch NASASpaceflight com 3 March 2017 Retrieved 2017 03 03 China conducts secretive Debut Launch of Kaituozhe 2 Rocket Spaceflight101 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kaituozhe rocket family amp oldid 1175891316 KT 1, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
