China successfully launched a Long March-2D carrier rocket, sending a remote sensing satellite into space on Sunday. The launch took place at 07:45 Beijing Time (23:45 GMT on Saturday) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan province. The rocket carried the Yaogan-42 02 satellite into its designated orbit.

This event marked the 517th flight mission of the Long March series rockets, demonstrating China’s growing capabilities in space exploration.

The Long March-2D Carrier Rocket

This is a powerful two-stage liquid-propellant carrier rocket, boasting a liftoff thrust of 300 tonnes. It is engineered to launch both single and multiple satellites to various orbits from China’s major satellite launch centres located in Jiuquan, Taiyuan, and Xichang. The rocket’s advanced technology allows it to deliver payloads of up to 1.3 tonnes to a sun-synchronous orbit approximately 700 kilometres above Earth.

Significance of the Launch

This successful launch of the Yaogan-42 02 satellite highlights the reliability and advanced capabilities of the 2D rocket. As China continues to expand its space exploration efforts, the Long March series plays a crucial role in achieving the country’s ambitious goals. The ability to deploy satellites with such precision and efficiency is a testament to the technological advancements made by China’s aerospace industry.