Long March 2A

{{Short description|Chinese carrier rocket used in the 1970s}}

{{Infobox rocket

|name=Long March 2A

|image = File:CZ-2 rendering (reduced height).jpg

|caption = Long March 2A

|function = Carrier rocket

|manufacturer = CALT

|country-origin= China

|status = Retired

|sites = LA-2/138, JSLC

|height = {{convert|32|m|ft}}{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/cz2a.htm|title=CZ-2A|author=Mark Wade|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|access-date=2008-05-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516212838/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/cz2a.htm|archive-date=2008-05-16}}

|diameter = {{convert|3.35|m|ft}}

|mass = {{convert|190000|kg|lb}}

|stages = 2

|launches = 4

|success = 3

|fail = 1

|first = 5 November 1974

|last = 26 January 1978

|capacities =

{{Infobox Rocket/Payload

|location=LEO

|kilos = {{convert|2000|kg|lb}}

}}

|family = Long March

|derivatives= Long March 2C, 2E, 2F

}}

The Long March 2A, also known as the Chang Zheng 2A, CZ-2A and LM-2A, was a Chinese orbital carrier rocket that launched FSW-0 reconnaissance satellites. It was later replaced by the more capable Long March 4C. It was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).

It launched from Launch Area 2B at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China. It was a 2-stage rocket that flew four times. On its first flight on 5 November 1974, a cable connecting the pitch rate control gyroscope to the guidance system became disconnected, resulting in a loss of control and launch failure.{{Cite web|title=Long March 2A|url=https://nextspaceflight.com/rockets/NextSpaceflight.com/rockets/110|access-date=2022-02-23|website=nextspaceflight.com|language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2008-05-16 |title=CZ-2A |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/cz2a.htm |access-date=2022-02-23 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516212838/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/cz2a.htm |archive-date=16 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}