China has launched five satellites successfully

Shashank Raj Gupta
China has launched five satellites successfully

Question: On 22 December 2020, China launched five satellites using its new rocket in its Long March series, named as-
a) Long March-3
b) Long March-5
c) Long March-8
d) Long March-7
Answer: (c)
Related Facts:-

  • On 22 December 2020; China has launched five satellites successfully into planned orbit.
  • It used the first Long March 8 rocket , kicking off a line of boosters that will eventually be reusable and make upright landings.
  • These boosters being developed by the China are similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy.
  • It wasn’t clear if this first rocket was reusable, according to Reuters, but China has disclosed plans to reuse Long March 8 boosters in the coming years.
  • The rocket blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China’s Hainan province.
  • The rocket successfully flew five test satellites into orbit, and used environmentally friendly liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuels for the launch.
  • The five experimental satellites will carry out the in-orbit verification of microwave imaging and other technologies.
  • They will conduct experiments in space science, remote sensing and communication technologies, official media reported.
  • The Long March 8 rocket is designed for the international commercial space launch market.
  • Long March 8 is expected to fill a gap in launch capabilities for low- and medium-orbit satellites.
  • It has been informed that with a recyclable design a future variant of Long March 8 can be reusable and thereby significantly reduce costs.
  • According to a report this kind of reusable boosters will shorten the launch cycle and hope is to turn around a booster for another launch within 10 days.
  • The new two-stage rocket uses two side boosters, with its main stages based on the designs of other Chinese rockets.
  • The first stage is based on the Long March 7 and the second stage is based on the Long March 3.
  • The Long March 8, however, fills a gap in Chinese capabilities by sending satellites either to geosynchronous orbits or to sun-synchronous orbits, depending on the mission needs.
  • It should be known that geosynchronous satellite allows for gazing consistently at one area of Earth and the Sun Synchronous satellite allows for consistent lighting conditions for imaging.

By – Rajesh Tripathi

Links:-
https://www.space.com/china-launches-long-march-8-rocket-maiden-flight
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/chinas-new-space-carrier-rocket-successfully-launches-five-satellites-on-its-maiden-flight/articleshow/79861246.cms