Posted: Sat, Apr 23, 2022, 9:45 AM ET (1345 GMT)
China conducted two launches hours apart April 15. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 8:01 am EDT (1205 GMT) and placed into orbit the ChinaSat 6D spacecraft. That communications satellite will operate from 125 degrees east in GEO, replacing ChinaSat 6A. A Long March 4C rocket lifted off at 2:16 pm EDT (1816 GMT) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, placing Daqi-1 into low Earth orbit. The satellite carries a lidar payload to study air pollution.

Related Links:

•  NASASpaceFlight.com article about ChinaSat 6D
•  NASAspaceFlight.com article about Daqi-1
•  Xinhua article about ChinaSat 6D
•  Xinhua article about Daqi-1