Spaceflight Insider

China launches 1st mission of 2019

A file photo of a previous Long March 3B launch. Photo Credit: Xinhua/Liang Keyan

A file photo of a previous Long March 3B launch. Chinasat-2D was lofted Jan. 10, 2019, atop the same type of vehicle. Photo Credit: Xinhua/Liang Keyan

China has carried out its first flight of 2019 with the launch of the Zhongxing 2D (Chinasat-2D) communications satellite. 

The China National Space Administration placed the spacecraft into a geostationary transfer orbit via a Long March 3B rocket (also known as the CZ-3B).

The satellite’s mission got underway at about 12:11 p.m. EST (17:11 GMT) Jan. 10, 2019, from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China. Chinasat-2D will be operated by, upon being checked out and deemed ready to provide services, China Satellite Communications.

The Long March 3B rocket has a fairly successful launch history since its first flight in 1996. To date, it has successfully completed 50 missions with one failure and two partial failures.

Video courtesy of SciNews

 

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Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.

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