Dongfanghong 1, China's First Independently Developed Satellite, is Launched Successfully on April 24, 1970

Dongfanghong 1, China's first satellite is sent into orbit on April 24, 1970. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Dongfanghong 1, China's first independently developed satellite, is launched successfully on April 24, 1970

Dongfanghong 1, China's first satellite designed and built independently by Chinese teams, was launched on April 24, 1970.

The development of the satellite was led by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and made China the third country in the world able to develop and launch a satellite independently.

The successful launching marked the start of the Chinese people's exploration of space. Since then, several kinds of spacecraft and rockets have been developed, including communications satellite, remote sensing satellites, navigation satellites, a space lab, lunar probes and carrier rockets.

In March 2016, the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council approved April 24 as China's "Space Day".

(Executive editor: Li Shuling)