On January 29, 1984, a LM-3 rocket failed during launch.
The third stage failed 4 s after restart for GTO insertion of the satellite, due to incorrect mixture ratio in the engine gas generator, which caused high temperatures and burned out the turbine casing. However, many planned tests on the experimental communications spacecraft were still carried out in the resulting elliptical orbit.
ChinaSat 4 launch failure
On December 28, 1991, a LM-3 rocket failed during launch.
The third-stage engine suffered a loss of turbine speed and combustion pressure 58 s after re-igniting for the second burn for GTO insertion and shut down completely 135 s after re-ignition. Loss of pressure in the high-pressure helium supply used for engine control had reduced the propellant flow.
ChinaSat 7 launch failure
On August 18, 1996 a LM-3 rocket failed during launch.
The third-stage engine shut down roughly 40 s earlier than planned because of a fire in the LH2 injector of the gas generator. Insufficient purging had permitted oxygen to freeze in the gas generator during flight.
Specifications
Specifications
Series
3
3A
3B
3B/E
3C
3C/E
Model
Stages
3
3
3 (plus 4 Strap-on boosters)
3 (plus 4 Strap-on boosters)
3 (plus 2 Strap-on boosters)
3 (plus 2 Strap-on boosters)
Length (m)
43.2
52.5
54.8
56.3
54.8
56.3
Max. diameter (m)
3.35
3.35
3.35
3.35
3.35
3.35
Liftoff mass (t)
204
241
426
459
345
378
Liftoff thrust (kN)
2,962
2,962
5,923
5,923
4,442
4,442
Payload (LEO, kg)
5,000
8,500
11,500
11,500
8,000
8,000
Launch history
The following launch statistics are gathered from the individual Wikipedia pages of each CZ-3x variants as those pages are updated more frequently by various editors; the numbers are current as of 23 February, 2023.
This Template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future
Symbol † indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)