The Long March 3B (CZ-3B) is a Chinese heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). It is part of the Long March 3 series and is specifically designed for launching large payloads into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), making it one of China's most powerful rockets. The Long March 3B is a three-stage rocket with four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters to increase its lifting capability. First launched in 1996, the rocket has been widely used to carry communication satellites and other large spacecraft.
Specs
Height: 56.3 meters (184.8 feet)
Diameter: 3.35 meters (11 feet)
Liftoff Mass: 456 metric tons
Stages: 3 stages
Boosters: 4 solid rocket boosters
Propellant: Hypergolic propellants – Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as fuel and Nitrogen Tetroxide (N₂O₄) as oxidizer
Main Engines: YF-25 engines (Stage 1), YF-24 engines (Stage 2), and YF-75 engines (Stage 3)
Thrust (at liftoff): ~3,120 kN (700,000 lbf) from the first stage
Powered by hypergolic propellants—unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as fuel and nitrogen tetroxide (N₂O₄) as the oxidizer—the CZ-3B offers a payload capacity of 5,500 kg to GTO and around 12,000 kg to LEO. The Long March 3B is often employed for commercial satellite launches, with a long record of missions, including international clients. It has played a critical role in establishing China’s foothold in the global space industry.
