China successfully sent a communication technology experiment satellite into space from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the southern island province of Hainan on Friday.
The satellite, launched at 7:30 p.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-5 Y7 carrier rocket, entered the planned orbit successfully.
The satellite will be mainly used for multi-band and high-speed communication technology experiments.
This marks the 509th mission by the Long March series carrier rockets.
The Long March-5 Y7 carrier rocket, carrying a communication technology experiment satellite, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, south China's Hainan Province, February 23, 2024. /CFP
Long March-5 is the largest low-temperature carrier rocket in service in China. Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, it had a core stage with a diameter of 5 meters and was powered by two YF-77 hydrogen-oxygen engines and eight YF-100 liquid oxygen and kerosene engines, with a takeoff thrust of more than 1,000 tonnes.
Four to five Long March-5 carrier rockets are expected to be launched this year, according to Lou Luliang, deputy chief designer of the rocket. Such a frequency will be maintained in the next few years.