China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) announced that on Monday morning, China launched a Kuaishzhou-1A carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest Gobi Desert, sending four satellites into orbit.
The state-owned aerospace contractor stated in a press release that the solid propellant rocket was launched at 9am and sent four satellites from the Tianmu 1 meteorological observation network into a predetermined orbit. This mission marks the 23rd flight of the Kuaishou 1A model and also the fourth flight of this year.
Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation stated that these satellites will be responsible for investigating global atmospheric environmental factors.
The 20 meter Kuaishou 1A, developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Hubei Branch and China Aerospace Sanjiang Group, has a takeoff weight of approximately 30 metric tons. According to Aerospace Science and Engineering, it can send 200 kilograms of payload into solar synchronous orbit or launch 300 kilograms of payload into low Earth orbit.
This mission marks China's 63rd rocket launch this year.
