The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) launched a trio of Yaogan 35 military reconnaissance satellites to orbit on the morning of Friday, July 29, as a Chang Zheng 2D rocket flew out of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Liftoff took place at 13:28 UTC.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Yaogan Weixing \u2013 translating to \u201cremote sensing satellite\u201d and often shortened to Yaogan \u2013 is the name that the Chinese space administration gives to many of its military spacecraft, much like the \u201cKosmos\u201d and \u201cUSA\u201d designations that have been used by Russia and the United States. Each Yaogan satellite carries out differing surveillance and national security missions for the Chinese government, though all are officially described as being used for agricultural purposes such as crop yield estimation and natural disaster prevention.<\/p>\n
Details from the Chinese government regarding the individual satellites\u2019 on-orbit operations are few and far between. Despite this, spacecraft analysis and comparisons to western missions and previous Chinese launches help to build a gradual understanding.<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s mission marked the third launch of a group of Yaogan 35 satellites, with previous launches having taken place in December 2021 and June 2022, respectively. Yaogan 35 is still considered to be a relatively new type of payload, so it will likely be sometime before its intended purpose becomes clear.<\/p>\n
The newest batch of satellites flew atop a Chang Zheng 2D (CZ-2D) launch vehicle. Also known in western circles as Long March 2D, it is a two-stage vehicle that serves as part of the traditional Chang Zheng rocket family along with the CZ-3 and CZ-4 classes.<\/p>\n
The CZ-2 rockets are mostly used to launch missions to low Earth orbit. Three versions \u2013 Chang Zheng 2C, Chang Zheng 2D, and Chang Zheng 2F \u2013 are currently in active service for the CASC.<\/p>\n
Chang Zheng 2D is an upgraded iteration of the original CZ-2 design, whilst also incorporating the advancements made to the CZ-4 design. CZ-2D made its debut flight in 1992 and has since enjoyed a run of 61 total launches with 60 successes and a single partial failure which occurred in December 2016.<\/p>\n
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