Chinaorbited a militarycommunications satelliteWednesday (Nov. 24) on a Long March rocket, continuing the country'sbusiestyear of space launches since the Chinese space program dawned more thanfourdecades ago.
TheLong March 3A rocket launched at 1609 GMT (11:09 a.m. EST) Wednesdayfrom theXichang space base in southwestern China's Sichuan province. It wasjust aftermidnight Thursday morning at the launch site. [Photoof theLong March 3Alaunch]
The172-foot-tall rocket delivered the Zhongxing20A communicationssatelliteto a geosynchronous transfer orbit stretching from alow point of 125 miles to a high point of 26,000 miles, according totrackingdata. The satellite will use an on-board propulsion system to reach anear-circular orbit about 22,300 miles above Earth.
Zhongxing20A, also known as Chinasat 20A, is believed to be a Chinesemilitary communicationssatellite.Official state-owned media reported the spacecraftwould help improve the country's radio and television broadcasts.
Butthe satellite likely provides secure communications coverage forChinese groundforces.
Thespacecraft is based on the DFH-3 satellite bus from the China Academyof SpaceTechnology. It likely weighed about 5,000 pounds fully fueled atliftoff.
Theflight was the 14th successful Chinesespace launch this year, setting a new mark for thecountry's launchindustry. Before 2010, China had launched no more than 11 rockets intoorbit ina single year.
- MakingHistory:China's First HumanSpaceflight
- ChineseSatellites Bump During SecretManeuvers
- ChinaUnveilsFirst Moon Photos FromNew Lunar Orbiter
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.
