CGWIC Launches the Long March Launch Vehicle

London, 27 December 2023.- China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), successfully launched a rideshare mission on the 4th of December at 12:10 BJT. The Long March-2C (LM-2C) launch vehicle took off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC), sending the MISRSAT-2 Satellite, and rideshare satellite of the 2nd group satellites A/B of Starpool-1 into orbit.

LM-2C is a two-stage liquid launch vehicle developed and manufactured by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), also a subsidiary of CASC. LM-2C is designed for LEO and SSO orbit remote sensing satellite launch missions. This is the 73rd launch of LM-2C.

The 2nd group satellite A/B of Starpool-1 are independently developed by Ellipspace Technology Co. which predominately provides wide-area comprehensive perception satellite application services. Under the guidance of CASC, CGWIC says it can provide fast, stable and reliable “one-stop” quality services to both international and domestic customers by introducing the “Long March Express” launch services brand.

CGWIC is a commercial organisation authorised by the Chinese government to provide commercial launch services and satellite systems. Since the Long March series of launch vehicles successfully entered the international market in the 1990s, CGWIC has completed 81 commercial launch missions for 72 international and 74 domestic satellites. Additionally, CGWIC has conducted 47 rideshare missions, sending 27 international payloads and 119 domestic payloads into orbit.