The Long March 2A, also known as the Chang Zheng 2A, CZ-2A and LM-2A, was a Chinese

orbit In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as ...

carrier rocket A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket designed to carry a payload (spacecraft or satellites) from the Earth's surface to outer space. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pads, supported by a launch control center and syste ...

which launched FSW-0

reconnaissance satellite A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite (commonly, although unofficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. Th ...

s. It was later replaced by the more capable Long March 4C. It was developed by the

China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) is a major state-owned civilian and military space launch vehicle manufacturer in China and one of the major launch service providers in the world. CALT is a subsidiary of the larger China A ...

(CALT). It launched from Launch Area 2B at the

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC; also known as Shuangchengzi Missile Test Center; Launch Complex B2; formally Northwest Comprehensive Missile Testing Facility (); Base 20; 63600 Unit) is a Chinese space vehicle launch facility (spac ...

in China. It was a 2-stage rocket which flew 4 times. On its first flight on 5 November 1974, a cable connecting the pitch rate control gyroscope to the guidance system became disconnected, resulting in a loss of control and launch failure.

List of launches

References

Long March (rocket family) Vehicles introduced in 1974 {{china-stub