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Launcher | Failure | Partial Failure |
Duration |
Ariane (all models) | 5 | 0 | Dec, 1979 - Apr, 1992 |
Atlas (all models) | 12 | 2 | Dec, 1958 - Jun, 1964 |
Thor Delta (all models) | 3 | 0 | May, 1960 - Jul, 1967 |
Titan (all models) | 4 | 0 | Apr, 1964 - Aug, 1969 |
Proton (all models) | 13 | 4 | Jul, 1965 - Oct, 1974 |
Long March (all models) | 3 | 4 | Apr, 1970 - Mar, 1998 |
Source: Gunter's space page , The Satellite Encyclopedia |
You see Long March is not bad. Similar to other launchers, most of its failures are first several launches of the specific model. Of all 7 failures, 3 were maiden flights, one was 3th and one was 5th, which is quite normal for a new launcher. Long March is comparable to Ariane and better than Atlas and Proton. Atlas' early record is not so good but it launched four manned ships into space. Can anyone say it was an unreliable launcher in that time? No. As the first manned launcher of United States, Atlas is a great achievement and a milestone in US space history. I belive Long March will follow the path of all other successful launchers. And it will be as good as today's Ariane when its 100th flight 7-8 years later.