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DF-31

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KT-1 on Pad

AKA: CSS-9; Dong-Feng 31. Status: Active. First Launch: 1999-08-02. Last Launch: 2013-07-24. Number: 10 . Payload: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Gross mass: 20,000 kg (44,000 lb). Height: 11.00 m (36.00 ft). Diameter: 2.00 m (6.50 ft). Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

The missile was tested on the ground in 1995. Ejection tests from the transport-launch tube began in 1998. The first flight test took place on 1 August 1999. Deployment was not expected until 2005-2010.

Maximum range: 7,900 km (4,900 mi). Number Standard Warheads: 1. Warhead yield: 250 KT. Boost Propulsion: Solid rocket. Initial Operational Capability: 1998.

KT-1 Chinese all-solid orbital launch vehicle. China's first solid propellant orbital launch vehicle was derived from the first and second stages of the DF-31 ICBM with a new solid third stage. The vehicle was named Kaituozhe-1 (Explorer-1) and was capable of putting 100 kg into polar orbits.

KT-2 Intermediate all-solid propellant Chinese launch vehicle. Model first displayed at Wuzhai in the fall of 2002. Evidently consists of new large diameter first stage motor, topped by the first two stages of the basic KT-1 vehicle. All figures are rough estimates.

KT-2A Heavy all-solid propellant Chinese launch vehicle. Model first displayed at Wuzhai in the fall of 2002. Consists of two parallel first-stage booster motors derived new the first stage motor of the KT-1, a larger-diameter core second stage motor like that of the KT-2, a new larger-diameter third stage motor, and an enormous new fairing. All figures are rough estimates.

DF-41 Chinese solid propellant, mobile ICBM. The DF-41 was a longer-range version of the DF-31.

Photo Gallery

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Chinese RV Shapes Chinese re-entry vehicle shapes, 1998. Credit: Richard D. Fisher, Jr

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• Test mission - . Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• China to Develop Solid Fuel Launch Vehicle - . Nation: China. China established the Space Solid Fuel Rocket Carrier Co., Ltd., to develop the new SLV-1 launch vehicle. This would be a mobile, partially reusable small space launcher..

• KT-1 solid rocket launcher - . Nation: China. China completed the overall design of the rocket engine that is to be used on its first all-solid space launch vehicle..

• Test mission - . Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Solid Launcher Officially Named - . Nation: China. China's new solid small space launcher was officially named "Kaituozhe-1" (Explorer-1). The launcher would be capable of putting 100 kg into polar orbit and was scheduled to make its first flight in 2002..

• Kaituozhe-1 (KT-1) small launcher passes design review - . Nation: China. A 14-member review committee concluded that the overall design of the KT-1 launch vehicle was feasible and could meet the requirement for launching micro-sats. The project officially entered the engineering phase..

• Test mission - . Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Kaituozhe 1 Third Stage Engine Successfully Tested - . Nation: China. The solid engine used on the third stage of the Kaituozhe 1 launch vehicle performed its first ground test firing. The test was successful and all parameters meet design specifications..

• Kaitozhe 1 First Commercial Launch in 2002 - . Nation: China. Kaituozhe 1's first commercial launch was scheduled for 2002..

• HTSTL-1 - . Mass: 50 kg (110 lb). Nation: China. Manufacturer: Tsinghua. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft Bus: HTSTL. Spacecraft: HTSTL. First attempted launch of the all-solid-propellant KT-1 launch vehicle. The 50 kg test satellite, built by university students, was to have been placed in a 300 km polar orbit..

• Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Kaituozhe 1 - . Payload: PS-2. Mass: 40 kg (88 lb). Nation: China. Spacecraft Bus: HTSTL. Spacecraft: HTSTL. Second attempted launch of KT-1. The launch was intended to place a 40 kg microsatellite called PS-2 into a 300 x 300 km polar orbit..

• Julang-2 - . Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

• MS-1? - . Nation: China. Agency: PLA2AC. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

• Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• DF-31 test - . Nation: China. Agency: PRC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Nation: China. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• RV - . Nation: China. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Test mission. Some sources claimed that it was a test of a new longer-range DF-41 ICBM.

• RV - . Nation: China. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Test mission..

• RV - . Nation: China. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Test mission..

• Nation: China. Agency: PLA2AC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• Kunpeng-7 - . Nation: China. Apogee: 30,000 km (18,000 mi).

  Magnetosphere mission. Said to be a very high altitude barium release experiment, but US Department of Defence stated it was a direct-ascent anti-geosynchronous satellite weapon test to an altitude of 30,000 km. Chinese officials stated it was a scientific mission with a payload launched to 10,000 km altitude consisting of a Langmuir probe, particle detectors, a magnetometer, and a barium cloud release.

• Nation: China. Agency: PLA2AC. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).

• RVs ? - . Nation: China. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Test flight..