China launches Long March 2D rocket carrying five experimental satellites

The rocket took off at 3:17 p.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in Inner Mongolia's autonomous region. The satellites are part of the Diamond Constellation, a high-speed laser communication technology demonstration network, and were placed into their designated orbits.

The satellites, developed by an organization affiliated with the Harbin Institute of Technology in Heilongjiang province, are designed to test advanced technologies, CASC officials reported.

The Long March 2D rocket, which operates on liquid propellants, features a liftoff thrust of 300 metric tons. It is capable of transporting payloads of up to 1.3 tons into sun-synchronous orbits at approximately 700 kilometers altitude. The rocket was designed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of CASC.

This launch represents China's 63rd space mission in 2024 and marks the 551st flight of the Long March rocket series, which serves as the backbone of the country's space launch capabilities.