Tag: China
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Long March 3B launches Tianlian 2-01
China has launched a new communications satellite to provide real-time communications between orbiting satellites and ground control stations. Tianlian 2-01 was launched at 15:50 UTC Saturday from the LC2 Launch Complex of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-3B/G2 (Chang Zheng-3B/G2) launch vehicle. The Chinese tracking and data relay satellites were developed by…
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China launches tracking and data relay satellite
A Chinese Long March 3B rocket delivered a new-generation tracking and data relay satellite to orbit Sunday to provide communications support for the country’s future human spaceflight missions and space station. Boosted by four strap-on engines, the three-stage Long March 3B launcher lifted off at 1551 GMT (11:51 a.m. EDT) Sunday from the Xichang…
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Chinese startup OneSpace fails in first orbital launch attempt
OneSpace’s OS-M rocket is seen veering off course shortly after ignition of its second stage Wednesday. Credit: Weibo A solid-fueled rocket launched Wednesday by the Chinese startup OneSpace flew off course shortly after liftoff, the second time in five months one of China’s new space companies failed in a bid to become the country’s first…
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Maiden launch of OneSpace OS-M rocket fails
The second orbital launch attempt for a private Chinese company has failed. OneSpace Tech’s OS-M Chongqing launch vehicle was attempting to orbit the small Lingque-1B technology demonstration satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The launch took place at 09:32 UTC but failed shortly after entering second stage flight. In 2014 China began encouraging private…
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Chinese startup plans first orbital launch attempt this week
Components of OneSpace’s first OS-M launch vehicle during an assembly rehearsal. Credit: OneSpace A Chinese startup named OneSpace could test its first full-scale launcher as soon as Wednesday in a bid to become China’s first privately-funded rocket company to place a satellite in orbit around the Earth. OneSpace’s OS-M rocket will lift off from the…
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Chinese TV broadcasting satellite launched on 300th Long March rocket
A Chinese television broadcasting satellite lifted off Saturday aboard a Long March 3B booster, the 300th orbital launch by the country’s Long March rocket family since 1970. The Long March 3B rocket climbed away from the Xichang space center at 1628 GMT (11:28 a.m. EST) Saturday, and headed east from the inland spaceport located…
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China returns from Spring break with Zhongxing-6C launch
After the long pause due to the Spring Festival, China resumed orbital launch operations with the launch of a new communications satellite by a Long March 3B. The Zhongxing-6C (or ChinaSat-6C) communication satellite was launched at 16:28 UTC Saturday from the LC3 Launch Complex of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The launch marked the 300th…
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NASA orbiter spots Chinese lander on the moon
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image of the Chang’e 4 lander and the Yutu 2 rover Feb. 1 from an altitude of 51 miles (82 kilometers). The Yutu 2 rover is annotated with the arrow on the upper left, and the Chang’e 4 stationary lander is annotated with the arrow at lower right. Credit:…
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Chinese company inks deal to launch 90 commercial smallsats
File photo of the first flight of China’s Long March 6 rocket in 2015. Credit: Chinese Ministry of Defense Satellogic’s recent agreement with a Chinese company to launch 90 commercial Earth observation satellites on five or six dedicated Long March rocket flights marks one of China’s biggest wins in the global launch market. Satellogic has…
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Chinese company inks deal to launch 90 commercial smallsats
File photo of the first flight of China’s Long March 6 rocket in 2015. Credit: Chinese Ministry of Defense Satellogic’s recent agreement with a Chinese company to launch 90 commercial Earth observation satellites on five or six dedicated Long March rocket flights marks one of China’s biggest wins in the global launch market. Satellogic has…