spacetoday.net: China launches oceanographic satellite

Posted: Thu, Apr 12, 2007, 9:38 AM ET (1338 GMT)
Long March 2C launch of Tan Ce 2 (ESA)

China launched its second ocean sciences satellite Wednesday, according to state media reports. A Long March 2C lifted off from the Taiyuan launch center at 11:27 pm EDT Tuesday (0327 GMT Wednesday) and placed the Haiyang 1B satellite into low Earth orbit. The satellite is designed to perform oceanographic research, monitoring ocean conditions and supporting utilization of oceanic resources. The spacecraft replaces China's first oceanographic satellite, Haiyang 1A, which was launched in 2002 and failed in orbit in 2004. After the launch Chinese officials said they plan to launch five more oceanographic satellites in the "near future", although the next is not scheduled for launch until 2009.