Five Ningxia-1 satellites, or Zhongzi satelites were sent into planned orbit by a Long March-6 launch vehicle from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 2:35 pm (Beijing Time) on Nov 13. The launch mission has achieved a complete success.

▲The Long March-6 launch vehicle blasts off into space.

The satellites and launch vehicle were developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and is a new generation of cryogenic liquid rapid launch three-stage launch vehicle. It has the capability of launching multiple satellites and the capability of launching single-satellite and multi-satellite required by different orbits. Under the three-stage and two-start conditions, the Long March-6 launch vehicle will be capable of placing up to 1 ton of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit at a height of 700 km.

▲The Long March-6 launch vehicle soaring into space.

This is the third flight of the Long March-6 launch vehicle, which successfully made its first flight and sent 20 satellites into space on September 20, 2015, setting a new record for China’s multi-satellite launch. The Long March-6 launch vehicle first carried out a commercial launch mission and successfully launched three “Jilin-1” video satellites on November 21, 2017.

This mission is thefirst low dip angle launch of the Long March-6 launch vehicle. For the mission requirements, the launch vehicles have made a series of technical upgrades including launch, rolling, lateral guidance, and new composite double-layer wall-mounted launchers. In the future, the Long March-6 launch vehicle will usher in a relatively busy international and domestic commercial order fulfillment period.

This mission is the 318th mission for the Long March series launch vehicles, and the 110th flight of the Long March series launch vehicles developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

△This photo shows badges made by the launch test team.

Source: China Aerospace Science and Technology Group’s WeChat public account