China launches commercial rocket mission Kuaizhou-1A

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‍The Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) rocket sent three satellites into space on Monday in its first commercial mission .

The rocket, carrying the satellite JL-1 and two CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1, blasted off from northwestern China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at around 12:11 pm on Monday Beijing Time (04:11 am GMT), according to a statement from the center.

Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) rocket carrier. /Zhang Lei

The KZ-1A was developed from the Kuaizhou-1 rocket with improvements in adaptability. It is a low-cost solid-fueled carrier rocket with high reliability, and was designed to launch low-orbit satellites weighing less than 300 kg.

The Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket roars upwards. /Xinhua Photo

The JL-1 is a multifunctional remote-sensing satellite providing high-definition video images which are expected to be used for land resource and forestry surveying, environmental protection, transport and disaster prevention and relief purposes.

The XY-S1 and Caton-1 are experimental satellites to test technologies of low-orbit narrow-band communication and VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) respectively.

Photo shows Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket roars upward into space. /Xinhua Photo

A rocket technology company under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation was responsible for the launch mission. The success of the mission marks the company's capability of providing flexible, convenient, quick and economical launch services for domestic and overseas clients, said the statement.

(Story by Xinhua)

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