China marks breakthrough in satellite launch technology
The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the core module of China's space station Tianhe, takes off from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, China April 29, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
China sent five new satellites into space on Saturday, a launch that marked a new technological breakthrough for the country.
A locally made Long March-11 carrier rocket took off from the coast of the East China Sea with five Jilin-1 Gaofen satellites, the first time China completed a “one-stop” sea launch, state-run daily Global Times reported.
All required processes were done on site at the Haiyang Oriental Aerospace Port in Haiyang in the eastern Shandong province.
“In previous seaborne launch missions, the rocket needed to complete one assembly test before being transported to the pier, and receive another test after it arrives, and the process was relatively complicated,” said Li Tongyu, commander-in-chief of the Long March rocket type.
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The report explained that the Haiyang port “supports the rocket to be assembled, tested, docked with the satellites, and loaded on the launch vessel in only a few hours.”
“In this way, it saves a considerable amount of preparation time by streamlining the process, and significantly reduces the cost,” Li said.
The Long March-11 rocket, which is capable of both land and sea launches, has “achieved 10 consecutive successful land launches and three successful sea launches,” the report added.