China deploys three spacecraft with Long March 2D rocket
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 20, 2025

China successfully launched a Long March 2D carrier rocket on Friday afternoon, deploying three spacecraft, including a cutting-edge atmospheric research satellite, into their designated orbits.

The launch occurred at 12:07 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The rocket carried the Tianlu 1 satellite, PRSC-EO1, and Lantan 1, delivering them precisely into orbit, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which developed the rocket.

The Tianlu 1 satellite, designed and manufactured by GalaxySpace, a Beijing-based private satellite firm, is equipped with advanced scientific instruments. These instruments will measure temperature, density, and composition in the middle and upper atmosphere. The satellite boasts high-resolution, continuous operational capabilities and multi-element detection functions, stated Xi Bin, a senior spacecraft designer at GalaxySpace.

"Reaching the middle and upper atmosphere is a challenge for most satellites and aircraft, necessitating specially designed satellites to measure the physical characteristics of these layers," Xi explained.

"The data gathered by Tianlu 1 is critical for predicting extreme weather events, studying climate change, and understanding the space environment. It will also aid researchers in creating atmospheric models, analyzing the ionosphere, and assessing the vertical distribution of air pollutants," he added.

Following its deployment, the satellite will be utilized by the Jianghuai Frontier Innovation Technology Center in Hefei, the capital of East China's Anhui province.

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