CASC's high-reliability medium launch vehicle with 100+ successful flights, widely used for commercial rideshare and SSO missions.
Long March 2C
CASC's high-reliability medium launch vehicle with 100+ successful flights, widely used for commercial rideshare and SSO missions.
Description
The Long March 2C (CZ-2C) is one of the most flight-tested launch vehicles in CASC's fleet, with over 100 successful missions. It is a two-stage rocket powered by YF-20 engines on the first stage and YF-22/23 engines on the second stage, using UDMH/N2O4 storable propellants. Capable of delivering approximately 3,850 kg to LEO (200 km circular orbit) or 1,250 kg to SSO at 700 km, the CZ-2C has been a workhorse for Chinese domestic and commercial satellite launches.
Long March 2C with an upper stage can deliver payloads to sun-synchronous orbit, making it attractive for commercial Earth observation satellite operators. CASC has offered CZ-2C rideshare manifests through its commercial arm China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and has launched international payloads including European and Brazilian satellites.
The vehicle launches from the Jiuquan, Taiyuan, and Xichang Satellite Launch Centers in China. Its high reliability and proven multi-decade track record make it a low-risk choice for institutional and commercial satellite operators requiring medium-class LEO or SSO delivery.
Specifications
| Stages | 2 (plus optional upper stage) |
|---|---|
| Propellants | UDMH/N2O4 (hypergolic) |
| Payload to LEO | 3,850 kg (200 km) |
| Payload to SSO | 1,250 kg (700 km) |
| First stage engines | 4× YF-20 |
| Launch sites | Jiuquan, Taiyuan, Xichang SLC |
