At 1825 GMT on 14 December China successfully launched its fourth Yaogan 36 triplet of the year. The mission saw a Long March 2D (CZ-2D) rocket lift-off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China, and place the three satellites into their planned low Earth orbits. Described officially by the Chinese as “remote sensing” satellites, Yaogan 36 is believed by Western observers to consist of two Optical and one Radar unit with a military SIGINT function.
The Long March 2D rocket lifting-off. Courtesy of Xinhua/Ying Longfei
