FB-1 Launch Media Gallery

The FB-1, like the CZ-2 launch vehicle begun the following year, was a two-stage booster developed from the DF-4 intercontinental ballistic missile. Payload for the booster was the JSSW, believed to have been a television-transmission military reconnaissance satellite. The incredible decision to develop two nearly identical rockets concurrently can be blamed on the turbulent factional politics after the Cultural Revolution.

The 'Gang of Four' was formed by Mao Zedong's wife Jiang Qing, a Shanghai Propaganda Department official, a literary critic, and a Shanghai security guard. They rose to power during turbulent period of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and dominated Chinese politics during that time. Development of the FB-1 (Feng Bao-1 = Storm-1), the first Chinese heavy-lift launch vehicle, began under their auspices in the autumn of 1969. A development team was formed with the Shanghai No. 2 Bureau of Mechanic-Electrical Industry as the leader. General system design was started in December the same year.

After Mao's death in September 1976, the Gang of Four was arrested and orbital flights of the FB-1 and JSSW came to a halt. In 1980 the Gang of Four were tried in court and given lengthy prison sentences. The final FB-1 made its last flight a year later with a payload of assorted scientific satellites. The FB-1 had slightly lower performance than the CZ-2 and no useful results from the series of JSSW satellites launched have been reported. However the Shanghai facility remained in use, being assigned development of the CZ-4 variants of the triumphant CZ-2 design.

Manufacturer: Shanghai No. 2 Bureau of Mechanic-Electrical Industry. Launches: 11. Failures: 4. Success Rate: 63.64%. First Launch Date: 1972-08-10. Last Launch Date: 1981-09-19. Launch data is: complete. LEO Payload: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). to: 200 km Orbit. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Associated Spacecraft: JSSW, SJ. Liftoff Thrust: 2,679.000 kN (602,263 lbf). Total Mass: 191,700 kg (422,600 lb). Core Diameter: 3.35 m (10.99 ft). Total Length: 33.00 m (108.00 ft). Flyaway Unit Cost $: 6.000 million. in: 1985 unit dollars.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: FB-1-1. Gross Mass: 150,400 kg (331,500 lb). Empty Mass: 10,000 kg (22,000 lb). Thrust (vac): 3,000.000 kN (674,400 lbf). Isp: 289 sec. Burn time: 128 sec. Isp(sl): 258 sec. Diameter: 3.35 m (10.99 ft). Span: 3.35 m (10.99 ft). Length: 20.10 m (65.90 ft). Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. No Engines: 4. Engine: YF-20A. Status: Out of production.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: FB-1-2. Gross Mass: 38,300 kg (84,400 lb). Empty Mass: 3,500 kg (7,700 lb). Thrust (vac): 761.900 kN (171,282 lbf). Isp: 295 sec. Burn time: 127 sec. Isp(sl): 270 sec. Diameter: 3.35 m (10.99 ft). Span: 3.35 m (10.99 ft). Length: 7.40 m (24.20 ft). Propellants: N2O4/UDMH. No Engines: 1. Engine: YF-22/23. Status: Out of production.

1972 August 10 - Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Complex: LA2. Launch Pad: LA2B. Launch Vehicle: FB-1. Model: Feng Bao 1. LV Configuration: Feng Bao 1 FB1-1.

• Test mission Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Research and Development Suborbital Flight References: 5, 398.

• JSSW 1 Nation: China. Payload: JSSW 1. Spacecraft: JSSW. Agency: PRC. COSPAR: F730918A. References: 279.

• JSSW 2 Nation: China. Payload: JSSW 2. Spacecraft: JSSW. Agency: PRC. COSPAR: F740714A. References: 279.

• JSSW 3 Nation: China. Payload: JSSW 3. Mass: 1,107 kg (2,440 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: JSSW. Agency: MAI. Perigee: 190 km (110 mi). Apogee: 455 km (282 mi). Inclination: 69.00 deg. Period: 90.90 min. COSPAR: 1975-070A. USAF Sat Cat: 8053. Decay Date: 1975-09-14. Photo surveillance; radio transmission. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• JSSW 4 Nation: China. Payload: JSSW 4. Mass: 1,110 kg (2,440 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: JSSW. Agency: MAI. Perigee: 186 km (115 mi). Apogee: 387 km (240 mi). Inclination: 69.00 deg. Period: 90.30 min. COSPAR: 1975-119A. USAF Sat Cat: 8488. Decay Date: 1976-01-27. Photo surveillance; radio transmission. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• JSSW 5 Nation: China. Payload: JSSW 5. Mass: 1,108 kg (2,442 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: JSSW. Agency: MAI. Perigee: 195 km (121 mi). Apogee: 2,145 km (1,332 mi). Inclination: 69.20 deg. Period: 108.80 min. COSPAR: 1976-087A. USAF Sat Cat: 9394. Decay Date: 1978-11-25. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• JSSW 6 Nation: China. Payload: JSSW 6. Spacecraft: JSSW. Agency: PRC. COSPAR: F761110A. References: 279.

• Test mission Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Research and Development Flight References: 5, 1166.

• Test mission Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 200 km (120 mi). Research and Development Flight References: 5, 1166.

• SJ-1 Nation: China. Payload: Shi Jian 1. Mass: 221 kg (487 lb). Spacecraft: SJ. Agency: PRC. COSPAR: F790728A. The SJ-1 was similar in appearance to the American Telstar and conducted communications technology tests. References: 279.

• SJ-2A Nation: China. Payload: Shi Jian 2B. Mass: 257 kg (566 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: SJ. Agency: MAI. Perigee: 232 km (144 mi). Apogee: 1,598 km (992 mi). Inclination: 59.50 deg. Period: 103.30 min. COSPAR: 1981-093A. USAF Sat Cat: 12842. Decay Date: 1981-09-26. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• SJ-2B Nation: China. Payload: Shi Jian C. Mass: 28 kg (61 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: SJ. Agency: MAI. Perigee: 233 km (144 mi). Apogee: 1,615 km (1,003 mi). Inclination: 59.40 deg. Period: 103.50 min. COSPAR: 1981-093B. USAF Sat Cat: 12843. Decay Date: 1982-10-06. Balloon for drag studies. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• SJ-2 Nation: China. Payload: Shi Jian 2. Mass: 483 kg (1,064 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: SJ. Agency: MAI. Perigee: 232 km (144 mi). Apogee: 1,608 km (999 mi). Inclination: 59.40 deg. Period: 103.40 min. COSPAR: 1981-093D. USAF Sat Cat: 12845. Decay Date: 1982-08-17. References: 1, 2, 5, 6.

• McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page, Harvard University, 1997-present. Jonathan McDowell's complete on-line listing of all objects orbited and over 20,000 rocket launches Accessed at: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.

• Isakowitz, Steven J,, International Reference to Space Launch Systems Second Edition, AIAA, Washington DC, 1991 (succeeded by 2000 edition). ISBN: 1563473534. Superseded by the later editions. More at amazon.com...

• Wilson, Andrew, editor,, Jane's/Interavia Space Directory, Jane's Information Group, Coulsdon, Surrey, 1992 et al. ISBN: 0710618107. The most comprehensive source of information for current space projects. Too expensive for human beings and most libraries. More at amazon.com...

• Wen-Rui Hu, Editor, Space Science in China, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, China, 1997.. ISBN: 9056990233. More at amazon.com...

• Chen Shilu, Yan Hui, Cai Yuanli, and Zhu Xiaoping, Acta Astronautica, "Progress and Development of Space Technology in China", Vol 46, No 9, p. 559, 2000. Paper IAA-96-IAA.2.2.05 presented at the 47th IA Congress, Beijing, 1996.