A Yuanzheng 1S upper stage aboard a Long March 3B carrier rocket was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Dec 26, sending the 57th and 58th BeiDou satellites into preset orbit.
A Long March 3B carrier rocket, carrying the 57th and 58th BeiDou satellites, is launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Dec 26. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the two BeiDou satellites are backups for the Beidou Navigation Satellite System project operating in medium-Earth orbit. They will reduce operation risks of the BDS and guarantee stable service of the system.
The Long March 3B carrier rocket and its Yuanzheng 1S upper stage were developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
The Yuanzheng 1S upper stage is an orbital transfer vehicle with conventional propellant specially developed for launch of China’s new-generation BeiDou navigation satellites.
The launch on Dec 26 was the 504th mission for the Long March series carrier rocket.
(Executive editor: Hao Wen)
