At 1050 GMT on 30 March a Long March 2D/2 (CZ-2D/2) rocket lifted-off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China, carrying four satellites. The satellites it carried were reportedly SAR microsatellites built for a company identified as Piesat or Aerospace Hongtu. The satellites, known as Hongtu-1 01A/B/C/D are the first part of a planned 38-unit constellation of SAR and optical Earth Observation satellites. Reportedly China Great Wall Industry Corp (CGWIC) was involved in supplying the rocket for the mission.
The Long March 2D rocket lifting-off with the four satellites onboard. Courtesy: Xinhua/Zheng Bin
