China launches space science satellite
Posted: Tue, Dec 30, 2003, 10:32 AM ET (1532 GMT)
A Long March booster launched a Sino-European space science satellite early Monday on what should be the final launch of 2003. The Long March 2C/SM lifted off from the Xichang launch center in China's Sichuan province at 2:06 pm EST Monday (1906 GMT Monday, 3:06 am Beijing time Tuesday) and placed the Double Star TC-1 spacecraft into orbit 12 minutes later. The spacecraft will fly in an elliptical orbit of 550 by 66,970 km, inclined 28.5 degrees to the Equator. The spacecraft, a joint project between China and the European Space Agency, is one of a pair of spacecraft that will be used to study the Sun's interaction with the Earth's magnetic field. The second spacecraft, TC-2, is scheduled for launch in mid-2004; it will have an elliptical polar orbit. The launch was the seventh this year for China and the 63rd of the year worldwide. Barring any unannounced launches in the next two days, it will also be the final launch of 2003.
A Long March booster launched a Sino-European space science satellite early Monday on what should be the final launch of 2003. The Long March 2C/SM lifted off from the Xichang launch center in China's Sichuan province at 2:06 pm EST Monday (1906 GMT Monday, 3:06 am Beijing time Tuesday) and placed the Double Star TC-1 spacecraft into orbit 12 minutes later. The spacecraft will fly in an elliptical orbit of 550 by 66,970 km, inclined 28.5 degrees to the Equator. The spacecraft, a joint project between China and the European Space Agency, is one of a pair of spacecraft that will be used to study the Sun's interaction with the Earth's magnetic field. The second spacecraft, TC-2, is scheduled for launch in mid-2004; it will have an elliptical polar orbit. The launch was the seventh this year for China and the 63rd of the year worldwide. Barring any unannounced launches in the next two days, it will also be the final launch of 2003.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, November 13
Firefly Aerospace identifies cause of Alpha test anomaly
NasaSpaceFlight.com — 4:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Firefly Plans Alpha Pad Return For Lockheed Martin Demo By Early 2026
Aviation Week — 4:12 am ET (0912 GMT) Alpha launch expectations lift Firefly despite Q3 losses
Austin (TX) American-Statesman — 4:11 am ET (0911 GMT) The Bright Side: Scientists witness supernova's early stages for the first time
France 24 — 4:09 am ET (0909 GMT) France steps into the space race
Defence24 — 4:06 am ET (0906 GMT) |
