Published: 09:54, October 16, 2024 | Updated: 13:27, October 16, 2024
China launches new Earth observation satellite
By Xinhua
A Long March-4C carrier rocket carrying a new Earth observation satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China on Oct 16, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

JIUQUAN / TAIYUAN - China on Wednesday sent a new Earth observation satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China.

The Gaofen-12 05 satellite was launched at 7:45 am (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-4C carrier rocket and entered the planned orbit successfully.

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It will be used in a variety of fields including land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimation and disaster relief.

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The launch marked the 540th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. 

A satellite group is launched aboard a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi province, Oct 15, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

New satellite group launched

China sent a new satellite group into space on Tuesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi province.

The 18 satellites are the second batch of the first generation of the Spacesail Constellation, developed to deliver low-latency, high-speed and ultra-reliable satellite (broadband) internet services to global users, according to the launch service provider China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). 

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The satellite group was launched at 7:06 pm (Beijing Time) aboard a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket and entered its preset orbit successfully. 

The modified Long March-6 launch vehicle is a new-generation Chinese medium launcher featuring a configuration of liquid core stages and four solid strap-on boosters. It was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of CASC. 

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It has a designed capacity of over 4,500 kg for a 700 km sun-synchronous orbit. This mission is its 8th launch. The launch marks the 539th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. 

China sent the first batch of the first-generation Spacesail satellites into space on Aug 6 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.