📌:Launch media thread!
🚀: Maiden Long March 5B

Short clip of the launch preps aired on CCTV ~hour ago.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/3279752321/J0oHOb6Ei
Long March 5B was rolled to the pad on the 29th.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/5578350522/IFwXNvDJp
As of ~2h ago, the launcher was sitting pretty on the pad waiting for it's big day.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/3279752321/J0ooib5yr
No launch NOTAMs (doubt there will be any) but apparent landing NOTAM for the crew capsule test article for Wednesday was posted few days ago. As is norm it will land near Jiuquan in the Gobi desert

ℹhttps://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/nsapp.html
Some images of the launcher from late March when they did some testing/training. 1/2

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/5616492130/IzCFdjr56
Middle platform has opened up

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/5558131549/J0uXYeJoq
Official CCTV stream. YT mirror should appear shortly https://twitter.com/Nextlaunch/status/1257544892122882049
Closeup of the vehicle from ~half an hour ago:

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/6010955456/J0wbIsK4r
CCTV updated the announcement with few pics from the rollout.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/2656274875/J0wkReBOL
press conference starting in few minutes
Steady tracking shot, IR tracking shot, onboard footage, interior shot of fairing sep.

This video has it all. https://twitter.com/LaunchStuff/status/1257658399325552640
High resolution versions of images posted above.

ℹhttp://www.bjnews.com.cn/news/2020/05/05/724222.html
Animation here shows one end being covered in MLI: https://twitter.com/starmil_admin/status/1257648486281076736

I think we have first view of the inflatable re-entry shield/cargo return experiment in the high res images.
One of the experiments on the crew capsule is to verify on-orbit 3d printing.

ℹhttps://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1665848742426526137
https://twitter.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1257873851007950849
News clip about the inflatable heat shield.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/3279752321/J0CTe5Eam
Crew capsule return set for Friday, 0521-0601 UTC
https://twitter.com/AJ_FI/status/1257951535310520322
CCTV clip about the 3D printing experiment. Unclear if the CASC logo printing footage is from ground or orbital test.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/5616492130/J0MQbvHcy
😒 https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1258459016990253056
0421 UTC - de-orbit burn
0533 UTC - service module separation
0549 UTC - TOUCHDOWN!!!

ℹhttps://weibo.com/5386897742/J0YcbhXdv
Photos from landing site.
2/2

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/6528178851/J0ZqGdG9j
2 views not included in the other video including a tracking shot of re-entry!!!

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/5461853682/J0YZ1ulb6
Sadly in SD but a must watch video.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/6528178851/J0Zh5pClr
Second closeup shot of the landed capsule.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/5616492130/J0ZGroTKB
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1258818799400255489
Slight quality improvement as the previously posted SD video is now accessible in 720p.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/6528178851/J0Zh5pClr
Some footage of post landing ops.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/5616492130/J171BtTGf
High resolution image of the landed capsule.

ℹhttps://www.weibo.com/6528178851/J1b0l5EQJ
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1259721771445555201
https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1259841591012884480
Australia, DUCK! US, prepare to duck!
IF it is still up there, it has passed US mainland.
Remember, core stage, it's "I bless the rain down in AFRICAAAA" not "I bless the razor rain down in AFRICAAAAA" so you better have re-entered already!
You can follow @LaunchStuff.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: