China launches communications satellite
Posted: Fri, Nov 14, 2003, 7:24 PM ET (0024 GMT)
A Long March booster successfully launched a Chinese communications satellite early Saturday, Chinese media reported. The Long March 3A booster lifted off from the Xichang launch center in southwestern China at 11:01 am EST Friday (1601 GMT Friday, 12:01 am Beijing time Saturday). The booster placed into orbit the Zhongxing-20 communications satellite. The spacecraft, built by the China Academy of Space Technology and weighing 2.3 tons, will operate from an unspecified location in geosynchronous orbit. The launch is the latest in an unprecedented surge of launches that has seen four launches in the span of one month. China launched Shenzhou 5 on October 15, CBERS 2 and Chuangxin 1 on October 21, and a small science satellite, FSW-18, on November 3. Prior to the launch of Shenzhou 5 on October 15 China had carried out only one successful launch in 2003, in additional to an unpublicized failure of a small launch vehicle.
A Long March booster successfully launched a Chinese communications satellite early Saturday, Chinese media reported. The Long March 3A booster lifted off from the Xichang launch center in southwestern China at 11:01 am EST Friday (1601 GMT Friday, 12:01 am Beijing time Saturday). The booster placed into orbit the Zhongxing-20 communications satellite. The spacecraft, built by the China Academy of Space Technology and weighing 2.3 tons, will operate from an unspecified location in geosynchronous orbit. The launch is the latest in an unprecedented surge of launches that has seen four launches in the span of one month. China launched Shenzhou 5 on October 15, CBERS 2 and Chuangxin 1 on October 21, and a small science satellite, FSW-18, on November 3. Prior to the launch of Shenzhou 5 on October 15 China had carried out only one successful launch in 2003, in additional to an unpublicized failure of a small launch vehicle.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, November 15
Sierra Space and DoE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory Revolutionizing Thermal Protection for a New Generation of Commercial Space Transportation Vehicles
Sierra Space — 6:20 am ET (1120 GMT) 1st Space Brigade bolsters tactical interoperability, integration with UK visit
US Army — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) US the greatest threat to space security and the biggest instigator of space arms race: Chinese Defense Ministry
Global Times — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) Rocket Lab to Launch Satellite Constellation Missions from Wallops Island
WBOC-TV Delmarva — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) AST SpaceMobile Announces Launch Services Agreements to Enable Continuous Space-Based Cellular Broadband Service Coverage
Business Wire — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) |
