AsecretChinese reconnaissance payload successfully launched on a Long MarchrocketMonday, the sixth time China has sent a satellite into orbit so farthis year.
Thetenth Yaoganmission liftedoff aboard a Long March 4C rocket at 2249 GMT (6:49 p.m. EDT)from theTaiyuan launching center in northern China's Shanxi province. It was6:49 a.m.local time at Taiyuan.
Thethree-stage booster placed the spacecraft in an orbit about 380 mileshigh withan inclination of 97.8 degrees, according to independent tracking data.
Thestate-run Xinhua news agency reported Yaogan 10 will conduct scientificexperiments, carry out land surveys, estimate crop yields and helprespond tonatural disasters.
Butthe Yaogansatellite is likely a militaryasset with a synthetic aperture radar system designed toobserve locationsall weather and lighting conditions.
Observersbelieve the Yaogan series, which began launching in 2006, is a newfleet ofhigh-resolution optical and radar reconaissance satellites. Alternatinglaunches from Taiyuan and the Jiuquan space base in northwestern Chinahaveorbited radar and electro-optical spy satellites.
Themostrecent Yaogan launch in March included three spacecraft that arebelieved to benaval observation satellites.
Chinaannounced Monday's launch about 24 hours in advance, a typical policyfor most Chinesemilitary payloads.
Itwas the38th launch worldwide to reach orbit in 2010.
- U.S.,China to Explore Cooperation in Space
- ChinaLaunches Military Reconnaissance Satellite
- ChinaHas Not Been Invited to Join International Space Station, NASA Says
Copyright 2010 SpaceflightNow.com,all rights reserved.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
