Rendering of Long March 3C
Function	Launch vehicle
Manufacturer	CALT
Country of origin	China
Size
Height	3C: 54.8 m (180 ft) [1] 3C/E: 55.64 m (182.5 ft) [2]
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft) [1]
Mass	345,000 kg (761,000 lb)
Stages	3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	3C: 8,000 kg (18,000 lb) [3] 3C/E: 8,000 kg (18,000 lb)[4]
Payload to GTO
Mass	3C: 3,800 kg (8,400 lb) [5][6] 3C/E: 3,900 kg (8,600 lb)
Payload to HCO
Mass	2,400 kg (5,300 lb) [5][6]
Associated rockets
Family	Long March
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	XSLC, LA-2 and LA-3
Total launches	18
Success(es)	18
First flight	3C: 25 April 2008 3C/E: 23 October 2014
Last flight	3C: 1 February 2016 3C/E: 6 July 2021
Type of passengers/cargo	Chang'e 2, Chang'e 5-T1
Boosters (3C)
No. boosters	2
Height	15.33 m (50.3 ft)
Diameter	2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Propellant mass	37,700 kg (83,100 lb)
Powered by	1 YF-25
Maximum thrust	740.4 kN (166,400 lbf)
Specific impulse	2,556.2 m/s (8,386 ft/s)
Burn time	127 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Boosters (3C/E)
No. boosters	2
Height	16.1 m (53 ft)
Diameter	2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
Propellant mass	41,100 kg (90,600 lb)
Powered by	1 YF-25
Maximum thrust	740.4 kN (166,400 lbf)
Specific impulse	2,556.2 m/s (8,386 ft/s)
Burn time	140 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
First stage (3C)
Height	23.27 m (76.3 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Propellant mass	171,800 kg (378,800 lb)
Powered by	4 YF-21C
Maximum thrust	2,961.6 kN (665,800 lbf)
Specific impulse	2,556.5 m/s (8,387 ft/s)
Burn time	145 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
First stage (3C/E)
Height	24.76 m (81.2 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Propellant mass	186,200 kg (410,500 lb)
Powered by	4 YF-21C
Maximum thrust	2,961.6 kN (665,800 lbf)
Specific impulse	2,556.5 m/s (8,387 ft/s)
Burn time	158 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Second stage
Height	12.92 m (42.4 ft)
Diameter	3.35 m (11.0 ft)
Propellant mass	49,400 kg (108,900 lb)
Powered by	1 YF-24E (YF-22E (Main) 4 x YF-23C (Vernier))
Maximum thrust	742 kN (167,000 lbf) (Main) 47.1 kN (10,600 lbf) (Vernier)
Specific impulse	2,922.57 m/s (9,588.5 ft/s) (Main) 2,910.5 m/s (9,549 ft/s) (Vernier)
Burn time	185 seconds
Propellant	N2O4 / UDMH
Third stage
Height	12.38 m (40.6 ft)
Diameter	3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Propellant mass	18,200 kg (40,100 lb)
Powered by	2 × YF-75
Maximum thrust	167.17 kN (37,580 lbf)
Specific impulse	4,295 m/s (14,090 ft/s)
Burn time	487 seconds
Propellant	LH2 / LOX
[edit on Wikidata]

The Long March 3C (simplified Chinese: 长征三号丙火箭; traditional Chinese: 長征三號丙火箭; pinyin: Chángzhēng Sānhào Bǐng Huǒjiàn), also known as the Changzheng 3C, CZ-3C and LM-3C, is a Chinese orbital launch vehicle. It is launched from Launch Complex 2 and 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC). A three-stage rocket with two strapon liquid rocket boosters, it is a member of the Long March 3 rocket family, and was derived from the Long March 3B. It was designed to fill a gap in payload capacities between the Long March 3A and 3B.

Launch Statistics

Launches

It made its maiden flight on 25 April 2008, at 15:35 UTC. The payload for the first launch was the Tianlian I-01 data relay communications satellite. The second carried the Compass-G2 navigation satellite and was conducted on 14 April 2009. The third launch was made on 16 January 2010, with the Compass-G1 satellite. The fourth carrying the Compass-G3 navigation satellite was launched on 2 June 2010. On 1 October 2010, it successfully launched China's second lunar probe, Chang'e 2.

An enhanced version, named Long March 3C/E, debuted during the launch of Chang'e 5-T1 on 23 October 2014.^[7] On 30 March 2015, the Yuanzheng upper stage was used on top of a Long March 3C launch vehicle for the first time.^[8]

List of launches