Description
The Long March 3B (Chinese: 长征三号乙火箭, Chang Zheng 3B ), also known as the CZ-3B and LM-3B , is a Chinese orbital launch vehicle. Introduced in 1996, it is launched from Launch Area 2 and 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan. A three-stage rocket with four strap-on liquid rocket boosters, it is the heaviest variant of the Long March 3 rocket family, and is mainly used to place communications satellites into geosynchronous orbits.
An enhanced version, the Long March 3B/E or G2, was introduced in 2007 to increase the rocket's geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) cargo capacity and lift heavier geosynchronous orbit (GEO) communications satellites. The Long March 3B also served as the basis for the medium-capacity Long March 3C, which was first launched in 2008.
As of 12 August 2023, the Long March 3B, 3B/E and 3B/G5 have conducted 87 successful launches, plus 2 failures and 2 partial failures, accumulating a success rate of 95.6%.
