CBERS-3

A Long March 4B carrying the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite CBERS-3 failed during ascent from Taiyuan when a blocked third-stage fuel line caused insufficient thrust, leaving the 2,100 kg Earth observation satellite unable to reach orbit and lost.

Outcome

Failure

Orbit

SSO

Sun-synchronous orbit

Payload to orbit

Did not reach orbit

Flight

20th

of 58 Long March 4B flights

Date and time

9 December 2013, 03:26 UTC

Rocket

Long March 4B

Builder

CASC

Launch site

Launch Complex 9, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Payload

Earth Science

Launches in 2013

76th of 81