Long March 2D | Zhangheng-1-02
Long March 2D • Long March
📝 Mission Description
China's Long March 2D Launches Zhangheng-1-02: Advancing Earthquake Prediction from Space
On June 14, 2025, China's space program marked another milestone with the successful launch of the Long March 2D rocket carrying the Zhangheng-1-02 satellite, also known as CSES-02 (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite-02). This mission, a collaborative effort between the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), builds on the legacy of its predecessor, Zhangheng-1, to probe the intricate links between space phenomena and seismic activity on Earth.
At the heart of the mission are its scientific objectives: to monitor electromagnetic fields, waves, plasma parameters, and particle fluxes in near-Earth space. These measurements target disturbances caused by natural sources like solar activity and artificial emitters such as radio transmissions. By analyzing correlations with seismic events, the satellite aims to enhance earthquake prediction models. Zhangheng-1-02's payload includes advanced instruments like high-precision magnetometers, electric field detectors, and particle analyzers, capable of detecting subtle ionospheric anomalies that may precede earthquakes. This data could refine global seismic forecasting, potentially saving lives by providing early warnings. The satellite's sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 500 kilometers altitude ensures consistent data collection over earthquake-prone regions, with improved sensor sensitivity over the original CSES mission, allowing for finer resolution in electromagnetic signal detection.
The launch vehicle, the Long March 2D, is a reliable workhorse in China's rocket fleet. Designed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, this two-stage liquid-fueled rocket stands about 40 meters tall and weighs around 232 tons at liftoff. It uses hypergolic propellants—unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and nitrogen tetroxide—for its first and second stages, delivering a payload capacity of up to 1,300 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbit. The rocket's modular design emphasizes cost-effectiveness and rapid turnaround, with a thrust of approximately 300 tons from its YF-21C engine cluster in the first stage. Technical upgrades in recent years have enhanced its guidance systems, incorporating more precise inertial navigation and GPS integration, reducing launch risks and improving orbital insertion accuracy.
The Long March 2D boasts an impressive performance history since its maiden flight in 1992. With over 80 launches and a success rate exceeding 95%, it has deployed a variety of payloads, including Earth observation satellites, navigation beacons
ℹ️ Official Details
Zhangheng 1-02, also known as CSES-02 (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite-02), is the follow-on mission to Zhangheng 1/CSES, a Chinese–Italian space mission dedicated to monitoring the electromagnetic field and waves, plasma parameters, and particle fluxes induced by natural sources and artificial emitters in near-Earth space, to study their correlations with the occurrence of seismic events.
The satellite mission is part of a collaboration program between the CNSA (China National Space Administration) and ASI (Italian Space Agency), and developed by CEA (China Earthquake Administration) and INFN (Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics), together with several Chinese and Italian Universities and research Institutes.
🎯 Post-Launch Analysis
The Long March 2D launch of Zhangheng-1-02 (CSES-02) on June 14, 2025, achieved a successful orbital insertion and payload deployment, marking another milestone in the China-Italy collaborative space program. The rocket performed flawlessly, delivering the satellite into its intended orbit with precision, showcasing the reliability of the Long March 2D system. Zhangheng-1-02, designed to monitor electromagnetic fields and plasma parameters in near-Earth space, was deployed without issues, ensuring its mission to study seismic event correlations can proceed as planned. Key engineering outcomes include validated launch vehicle stability and accurate orbital positioning, reinforcing confidence in the platform for future missions. This success strengthens the CNSA-ASI partnership and paves the way for expanded research into seismo-electromagnetic phenomena, potentially enhancing earthquake prediction capabilities. Future missions may build on these technical achievements and collaborative frameworks for broader scientific impact.