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Summary

In 2006, CALT website confirmed that the second-generation CZ-2F development project had begun, with Jin Muchun appointed the chief designer, Zhang Zhi the deputy designer, and Liu Zhusheng (chief designer of the CZ-2F) the chief adviser.

In June 2008, Jin Muchun disclosed more details about the new launch vehicle to the press. According to Liu, the ShenZhou 7 launch would be the last mission undertaken by the CZ-2F. Future flight missions were to be carried out by improved variants with radical modifications.

He said that the improvement of the CZ-2F would be implemented in two stages.

The first stage of the project aimed to develop a launch vehicle designated CZ-2F/G for unmanned missions, followed by the further improved CZ-2F/H model using the LOX/Kerosene propellant for manned missions in the second stage.

CZ-2F/G

The CZ-2F/G will have the emergency escape tower removed and also features a larger diameter payload fairing and higher payload capability (~11.2 tonnes according to some reports).

The inertial guidance, flight control and onboard electronic systems of the launch vehicle will be completely redesigned to provide better orbit positioning accuracy and improved fault redundancy.

The launch vehicle will be tested for the first time in the ShenZhou 8 / “Target Spacecraft” mission scheduled in 2010.

CZ-2F/H

In the second stage, a further improved variant CZ-2F/H using the LOX/Kerosene propellant will be developed. The CZ-2F/H will be available in manned and unmanned variants.

The manned variant is used to launch future ShenZhou spacecraft,

with a launch weight of 582 tonnes and a LEO capability of 12.5 tonnes.

The unmanned variant is used to launch cargo spacecraft and modules of the future space station, with a launch weight of 579 tonnes and a LEO capability of 13 tonnes.

The launch vehicle will use a 3.35m-diameter core module with four 2.25m-diameter strap-on boosters.

The 3.35m diameter core stage consists of two 120t thrust YF-100 engines that burn liquid oxygen and kerosene (LOX/Kerosene) propellant.

 The 2.25m diameter strap-on booster consists of one 120t thrust YF-100 engine that burns oxygen and kerosene (LOX/Kerosene) propellant.

Specifications

Last updated: 13 October 2008