China launches its tallest rocket, Long March 5, carrying Yaogan 41 satellite

China launches its tallest rocket, Long March 5, carrying Yaogan 41 satellite
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 18, 2023

In a significant advancement in China's space exploration endeavors, the Long March 5 carrier rocket, renowned as one of the world's most powerful operational rockets, successfully deployed a remote-sensing satellite into space on Friday evening. This marked the sixth launch mission of the Long March 5, as confirmed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the nation's leading space contractor and parent organization of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the rocket's designer.

The latest mission, launching from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province at 9:41 pm, saw the Long March 5 rocket reach new heights, both literally and figuratively. The rocket, which previously facilitated pivotal missions such as China's first Mars exploration and the Chang'e 5 lunar probe, has now set a new record for China. With an extended fairing measuring 18.5 meters, the sixth Long March 5 achieved an overall height of 63.2 meters, surpassing the previous record-holder, the 60.1-meter Long March 7A.

This extended fairing, a significant difference from the 12.3 meters of its predecessors, has been a key factor in enhancing the rocket's capabilities. The fairing is an essential component, housing satellites or other payloads, and its expansion signifies a step forward in the rocket's capacity to carry larger payloads.

Since its inaugural flight in November 2016, the Long March 5 has demonstrated its prowess and versatility. Despite a setback in July 2017 due to technical abnormalities, which led to a suspension and overhaul of the rocket type, it has been an integral part of China's space narrative. The rocket, resuming flights in December 2019, has a baseline configuration with a liftoff weight of 869 metric tons and can carry up to 25 tons to low-Earth orbit or 14 tons to a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The satellite carried by this mission, Yaogan 41, adds to China's substantial fleet of remote-sensing satellites. These satellites play a crucial role in various national activities, ranging from land resources surveying to environmental monitoring and disaster prevention. The Yaogan series, in particular, forms the largest fleet of remote-sensing spacecraft in China, with the data they provide being extensively used by governments, public service sectors, and businesses.

China's space program, underpinned by the Long March rocket series, has now seen over 300 civilian remote-sensing satellites launched into orbit. The successful deployment of Yaogan 41 not only highlights the technical prowess of the Long March 5 but also underscores China's growing capabilities and ambitions in space exploration and utilization.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article