China launches new Earth remote sensing satellites

China on Sunday launched a new group of Earth remote sensing satellites from the Taiyuan launch centre in the northern province of Shanxi. A modified Long March-6 rocket carrying the Yaogan-40 03 group of satellites lifted off at 0:34 a.m. and sent them into their preset orbits.

The modified Long March-6 launch vehicle, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Space Technology, can carry a payload of at least 6.5 tonnes into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometres. It is designed to meet diverse and intense launch requirements for both single and multiple satellites in tandem, parallel, stacked, wall-mounted and piggyback configurations. The launch marked the 593rd mission of the Long March launch vehicle series.

CMG