China launches first Long March 8
Posted: Sat, Jan 2, 2021, 12:20 PM ET (1720 GMT)
China successfully launched its first Long March 8 rocket Dec. 21. The medium-lift rocket launched from the Wenchang spaceport on the island of Hainan at 11:37 pm EST (0437 GMT Dec. 22). It placed into sun-synchronous orbit the XJY-7 classified remote sensing technology demonstrator satellite and four smaller satellites, including the first commercial synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite for Chinese company Spacety. The Long March 8 is designed to fill a gap in launch capabilities for medium-class spacecraft and is part of a broader family of new launch vehicles intended to ultimately replace the Long March 2, 3 and 4 vehicles. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which developed the Long March 8, eventually wants to recover and reuse the first stage.
China successfully launched its first Long March 8 rocket Dec. 21. The medium-lift rocket launched from the Wenchang spaceport on the island of Hainan at 11:37 pm EST (0437 GMT Dec. 22). It placed into sun-synchronous orbit the XJY-7 classified remote sensing technology demonstrator satellite and four smaller satellites, including the first commercial synthetic aperture radar imaging satellite for Chinese company Spacety. The Long March 8 is designed to fill a gap in launch capabilities for medium-class spacecraft and is part of a broader family of new launch vehicles intended to ultimately replace the Long March 2, 3 and 4 vehicles. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which developed the Long March 8, eventually wants to recover and reuse the first stage.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, July 20
Attacking Starlink
National Review — 4:12 am ET (0812 GMT) Starlink Launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base Scheduled for Monday Morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 4:11 am ET (0811 GMT) Could space could become Korea’s next powerhouse industry after chips?
JoongAng Daily — 4:11 am ET (0811 GMT) Commentary: Canaveral’s Exploration Tower could inspire new space age
Orlando Sentinel — 4:09 am ET (0809 GMT) SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 rocket out of Vandenberg Space Force Base
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 4:08 am ET (0808 GMT) |
