China successfully launches new satellite group

TAIYUAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) — China sent a new satellite group into space on Tuesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.
The 18 satellites are the second batch of the first generation of the Spacesail Constellation, developed to deliver low-latency, high-speed and ultra-reliable satellite (broadband) internet services to global users, according to the launch service provider China Great Wall Industry Corporation, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The satellite group was launched at 7:06 p.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket and entered its preset orbit successfully.
The modified Long March-6 launch vehicle is a new-generation Chinese medium launcher featuring a configuration of liquid core stages and four solid strap-on boosters. It was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of CASC.
It has a designed capacity of over 4,500 kg for a 700 km sun synchronous orbit. This mission is its 8th launch.
The launch marks the 539th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.
China sent the first batch of the first-generation Spacesail satellites into space on Aug. 6 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. ■