The Long March 3C is a Chinese orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). It was designed to bridge the gap in payload capacity between the smaller Long March 3A and the more powerful Long March 3B. Its first flight took place on April 25, 2008, and it remains an active part of China's launch fleet, primarily operating from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Specs:

Height:

Long March 3C: 54.8 m (180 ft)

Long March 3C/E (Enhanced): 55.64 m (182.5 ft)

Diameter: 3.35 m (11.0 ft)

Mass: 345,000 kg (761,000 lb)

Stages: 3

This launch vehicle features a three-stage design with two strap-on boosters. The first two stages and boosters use hypergolic propellants (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide), which are storable and reliable. The third stage uses a more advanced cryogenic combination of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, giving it higher efficiency and performance for orbital insertion tasks.

The Long March 3C is capable of delivering approximately 3.8 to 3.9 metric tons to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). It is commonly used to launch communications satellites, BeiDou navigation satellites, and space probes, including missions related to China’s ambitious Chang’e lunar exploration program. Notably, it was the rocket that launched the Chang’e 2 lunar probe in 2010 and has supported multiple BeiDou satellite launches critical to China's independent navigation system.

An upgraded version known as the Long March 3C/E (Enhanced) has also been developed, featuring improved avionics and payload fairing options. The Long March 3C continues to be a reliable workhorse for China’s growing space ambitions, supporting both civilian and military satellite deployments.

The space center was built in the early 1980s and takes its name from the closest city, Xichang in Sichuan Province, the People's Republic of China.

It is used to launch international scientific and commercial missions as well as satellites for the military.

The site is landlocked, so launches have to take place over land and populated areas.

This creates a potential danger to people living in the path of falling rocket stages and boosters that are discarded during launch.

Photo credit: CGTN