China Enhances Environmental Monitoring With Yunhai 3B Satellite Launch

In a significant advancement for China's space exploration efforts, a Long March 6A carrier rocket was launched on Wednesday morning, successfully deploying the Yunhai 3B satellite into orbit. This event, as reported by China Daily and confirmed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), took place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province at precisely 6:51 am.

The Yunhai 3B satellite, now in its designated orbit, is set to undertake a critical role in surveying atmospheric, marine, and space environments. This initiative is aimed at bolstering disaster prevention and mitigation strategies while also facilitating scientific experiments. The satellite, alongside the rocket, was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of CASC. This launch adds to the growing fleet of Yunhai-series multifunctional satellites that China has been deploying to space through various missions.

The Long March 6A rocket, characterized by its medium-lift capability, features a 50-metre liquid-propelled core booster complemented by four solid-fuel side boosters. The core booster, with a diameter of 3.35 metres, operates on two 120-ton-thrust engines that utilize liquid oxygen and kerosene as fuel. With a lift-off weight of 530 metric tons, the rocket is adept at transporting satellites to a variety of orbits including sun-synchronous, low-Earth, and intermediate circular orbits.

This launch marks a milestone as the 14th space mission undertaken by China this year and signifies the 514th flight within the Long March rocket family series. Looking ahead, China has ambitiously scheduled approximately 100 rocket launches for the year 2024, highlighting its commitment to expanding its presence and capabilities in outer space.

With inputs from WAM