China successfully launched a Long March 2D (CZ-2D) vehicle from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China, at 0303 GMT on 11 June 2021. The vehicle was carrying four satellites: BEIJING 3, a commercial earth observation satellite; HAISI 2, a ocean colour monitoring optical satellite; WANGWANG 1, a commercial astronomical satellite; and the TIANJIAN SPACE TEST NO-1 military technology test satellite. All four satellites were placed into an approximately 490 x 500 km, sun-synchronous low Earth orbit.
The Long March 2D lifts-off from Taiyuan. Courtesy of Xinhua/Zheng Taotao
Phil Hylands contributed to this article.
