China launches communications satellite
Posted: Fri, Nov 14, 2003, 6:24 PM ET (2324 GMT)
A Long March booster successfully launched a Chinese communications satellite early Saturday, Chinese media reported. The Long March 3A booster lifted off from the Xichang launch center in southwestern China at 11:01 am EST Friday (1601 GMT Friday, 12:01 am Beijing time Saturday). The booster placed into orbit the Zhongxing-20 communications satellite. The spacecraft, built by the China Academy of Space Technology and weighing 2.3 tons, will operate from an unspecified location in geosynchronous orbit. The launch is the latest in an unprecedented surge of launches that has seen four launches in the span of one month. China launched Shenzhou 5 on October 15, CBERS 2 and Chuangxin 1 on October 21, and a small science satellite, FSW-18, on November 3. Prior to the launch of Shenzhou 5 on October 15 China had carried out only one successful launch in 2003, in additional to an unpublicized failure of a small launch vehicle.
A Long March booster successfully launched a Chinese communications satellite early Saturday, Chinese media reported. The Long March 3A booster lifted off from the Xichang launch center in southwestern China at 11:01 am EST Friday (1601 GMT Friday, 12:01 am Beijing time Saturday). The booster placed into orbit the Zhongxing-20 communications satellite. The spacecraft, built by the China Academy of Space Technology and weighing 2.3 tons, will operate from an unspecified location in geosynchronous orbit. The launch is the latest in an unprecedented surge of launches that has seen four launches in the span of one month. China launched Shenzhou 5 on October 15, CBERS 2 and Chuangxin 1 on October 21, and a small science satellite, FSW-18, on November 3. Prior to the launch of Shenzhou 5 on October 15 China had carried out only one successful launch in 2003, in additional to an unpublicized failure of a small launch vehicle.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, February 11
Jet Propulsion Laboratory anticipating major cuts in NASA budget
KPCC-FM Pasadena, CA — 4:06 pm ET (2106 GMT) Satellites spot Syrian violence from space
Spaceflight Now — 4:05 pm ET (2105 GMT) One giant leap for former fast-food joint
Mountain View (CA) Voice — 4:04 pm ET (2104 GMT) Orion hoping for success with second generation parachute system
NasaSpaceFlight.com — 8:53 am ET (1353 GMT) Small company is sky-high
Santa Maria (CA) Times — 8:01 am ET (1301 GMT) |