Tag: Long March
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Beidou navigation satellite successfully launched by China
A Long March 3B rocket lifts off Saturday from the Xichang space base in China. Credit: Xinhua Another satellite to join the China’s independent global navigation network successfully launched Saturday from the mountainous Xichang spaceport in the southwest of the country. The Beidou navigation satellite lifted off at 1441 GMT (10:41 a.m. EDT) Saturday from…
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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 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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Long March 11 launches with four satellites
China conducted its second orbital launch of 2019 using a Long March 11 rocket – this time carrying four satellites into orbit. The launch took place from a mobile launch platform at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 05:42 UTC on Monday, per one of the payload customers – later confirmed by Chinese State media.…
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China begins 2019 launch campaign with a success
A Long March 3B rocket lifted off Thursday from the Xichang space center carrying the Zhongxing 2D, or Chinasat 2D, communications satellite. Credit: Xinhua A Chinese communications satellite heading for geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles over the equator lifted off Thursday from the Xichang space base in southwestern China aboard a Long March 3B…
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Long March 3B lofts Chinasat-2D
Following a record-breaking 2018 that saw China launch 39 orbital mission, the Chinese have kicked off the new year by orbiting a new communications satellite with possible military applications. Zhongxing-2D (or Chinasat-2D) was launched at 17:05 UTC on Thursday – from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using a Long March-3B/G3 from the LC2 Launch Complex. Zhongxing-2D is…
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China lands Chang’e-4 mission on the far side of the Moon
Following a December 7, 2018 launch on a Long March-3B/G3Z rocket, China has now landed its fourth and most ambitious lunar exploration mission on Thursday, January 3, 2019. This is the first mission to land on the far side of the Moon. The Chang’e-4 mission is part of the second phase of China’s lunar program,…
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China debuts new upper stage in final launch of the year
A Long March 2D rocket lifts off Saturday from the Jiuquan space base in northwestern China’s Inner Mongolia region. Credit: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. A Chinese Long March 2D booster climbed into orbit from the Jiuquan space base in the northwest of the country Saturday, delivering seven small satellites to space on communications…