China launches reconnaissance satellite
Posted: Fri, May 11, 2012, 5:33 AM ET (0933 GMT)
China launched on Thursday a satellite believed to be the latest in a series of military reconnaissance spacecraft. The Long March 4B lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 3:06 am EDT (0703 GMT, 3:16 pm Beijing time) Thursday and placed the Yaogan 14 satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit. Chinese officials said the satellite would carry out scientific experiments and remote sensing, although Western analysts widely believe that the satellite's primary mission is military reconnaissance. The launch also placed a small experimental satellite, Tiantuo 1, into orbit. The launch was the seventh this year by China, and the third in less than two weeks after the launch of two navigation satellites on April 30 and a civilian mapping satellite on May 6.
China launched on Thursday a satellite believed to be the latest in a series of military reconnaissance spacecraft. The Long March 4B lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 3:06 am EDT (0703 GMT, 3:16 pm Beijing time) Thursday and placed the Yaogan 14 satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit. Chinese officials said the satellite would carry out scientific experiments and remote sensing, although Western analysts widely believe that the satellite's primary mission is military reconnaissance. The launch also placed a small experimental satellite, Tiantuo 1, into orbit. The launch was the seventh this year by China, and the third in less than two weeks after the launch of two navigation satellites on April 30 and a civilian mapping satellite on May 6.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, May 24
The Satellite Industry Association Hails Administration's Speedy Issuance of Draft Rules to Reform Satellite Export Controls
SIA — 10:39 am ET (1439 GMT) Pentagon sees doubled cost for rocket launch program
Reuters — 9:54 am ET (1354 GMT) GOES 13 Weather Satellite fails
Syracuse Post-Standard — 9:34 am ET (1334 GMT) ULA's Delta IV launch set for tonight
Florida Today — 9:31 am ET (1331 GMT) Cannes 2013: Leonardo DiCaprio space flight goes for $1.5 million
Los Angeles Times — 9:30 am ET (1330 GMT) |
