Chinese rocket launches Earth observation satellite into orbit

The Chinese carrier rocket Kuaizhou-1A successfully launched a remote-sensing Earth observation satellite into orbit on December 4. 

The launch took place at 12:46 (GMT+8) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province, located in southwestern China, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The satellite, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, successfully reached its planned orbit. It is equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which allows it to capture radar images of the Earth surface and objects on it, regardless of weather conditions or time of day. The satellite is primarily designed for monitoring ocean dynamics. 

The Kuaizhou-1 launcher, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASIC), is a compact, solid-fueled vehicle, likely based on the road-mobile DF-21 IRBM, with two additional upper stages. 

The Kuaizhou-1 consists of three solid-fueled stages and one liquid-fueled upper stage. It is designed for rapid-launch capabilities and is capable of placing up to 400 kg into orbit. The payload is integrated with the upper stage.

A commercial variant, called Fei Tian 1 (FT-1), features a separable payload and a larger payload fairing. Another version, the Kuaizhou-1A, appears similar, also offering a separable payload. These names might refer to essentially the same version.

By Naila Huseynova