China sends experimental satellite into orbit with Long March 4C rocket

The launch occurred at 7:43 am, with the rocket successfully placing the Shiyan 23 satellite into its predetermined orbits, as stated by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, a prominent space contractor in the nation.

The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of the corporation, developed both the rocket and the satellite.

The Long March 4C rocket, weighing 250 metric tons at liftoff, is primarily employed for dispatching satellites to sun-synchronous orbits. It boasts the capacity to transport up to 3 tons of satellites to a typical altitude of 700 kilometers above Earth.

Tasked with the role of monitoring and surveying the space environment, the Shiyan 23 satellite is part of a broader initiative to enhance space-based observations, according to the State-owned conglomerate.

This launch marks the 22nd space mission for China this year and the 522nd flight in the Long March rocket series.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article (SPX) May 13, 2024