The Chinese sent 14 new satellites into orbit on a Long March-2D/2 (CZ-2D/2) rocket at 0314 GMT on 15 January. The launch took place from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the Shanxi Province of north China.
Among the 14 satellites were high-resolution optical satellites Qilu-2 and Qilu-3 which will be used for remote sensing services for agriculture, environmental protection, and disaster prevention and reduction for the Shandong Province in China. The satellites onboard also included Luojia-3 01 and Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D34. The mission was declared a mission after all of the satellites reportedly entered their planned orbits.
The launch marked the 462nd mission for the Long March carrier rocket series, which was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
The launch of China’s latest Long March-2D rocket marks the 462nd flight mission using the rocket series. Courtesy: Xinhua.
