China launched a Long March 6 (CZ-6) rocket at 0450 GMT on 10 August from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The rocket carried 16 satellites built by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., into a sun-synchronous, low Earth orbit. They will form part of its Jilin-1 Earth Observation constellation.
The satellites were identified as Jilin 1 Gaofen 03D-09 and Gaofen 03D-35 to -43, joined by some satellites under a new designation, Jilin 1 Infrared A01 to 06. Many of the units also carry other names and may have been part financed by third parties. The Gaofen 03D-35-41 units are also known as Dongpo-01 to -07 for Meishan Huantian Smart Technology Co., Ltd. The Infrared A01 to 05 satellites are also identified as Yunyao-1 04 to 08 and for Tianjin Yunyao Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd.
The Long March 6 rocket lifts-off from Taiyuan with its 16 payloads. Courtesy of Xinhua/Zheng Bin
