Satellite
22:37, 29-Dec-2018
China launches six Yunhai-2 satellites and a test communication satellite
Updated
22:34, 01-Jan-2019
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China launched a total of seven satellites onboard one rocket into space on Saturday, successfully completing the last launch mission in 2018.
Launched by a Long March-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 4:00 p.m. local time (08:00 GMT), six Yunhai-2 satellites are for atmospheric environment research, and a test communication satellite, the first of the Hongyan communication constellation, will be used to verify the function of mobile communications in low earth orbit (LEO).
The Long March-2D rocket carrying six Yunhai-2 satellites and a test communication satellite. /Xinhua Photo
The Long March-2D rocket carrying six Yunhai-2 satellites and a test communication satellite. /Xinhua Photo
Yunhai-2 satellites will be mainly used in fields like detection of atmospheric environmental factors, space environmental monitoring, disaster prevention and reduction, and scientific experiments.
Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the Hongyan constellation consists of hundreds of LEO satellites and a global data business processing center. It will provide services across the world including intelligent terminal communication, Internet of Things, mobile broadcasting, navigation enhancement, flight and sailing condition monitoring, and broadband Internet access.
The system can realize global real-time communication in all weather and all-time under complex terrain conditions.
The upper stage Yuanzheng-3, or Expedition-3, atop the rocket, also contributed to the success of the mission.
Upper stages are independent spacecraft installed on the carrier rocket that are capable of restarting their engines multiple times in space to allow them to send different payloads into varying orbits. They are also referred to as space shuttles.
This is the 297th mission for the Long March rocket series.
(Cover: A Long March-2D rocket carrying six Yunhai-2 satellites and a test communication satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, December 29, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)
(With input from Xinhua News Agency)