China launches Long March-5 remote sensing satellite

China has achieved yet another milestone in its space exploration endeavours with the successful launch of a new remote-sensing satellite, known as Long March-5 Y6. The satellite was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, situated in the southern island province of Hainan.

The Long March-5 Y6 carried the Yaogan-41, which is a high-orbit optical remote sensing satellite designed to capture high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface from space.

The satellite will provide critical data for various applications, including land resource surveys, urban planning, agriculture monitoring, environmental management, meteorological warning and forecasting, and comprehensive disaster prevention and reduction.

The launch marks the 502nd mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.

‘Tallest rocket in commission’

The newly launched Long March-5 rocket has for the first time used an 18.5-meter-long fairing, setting a new height benchmark for China’s carrier rockets in commission.

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The rocket, coded Long March-5 Y6, blasted off at 9:41 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the southern island province of Hainan on Friday, sending a high-orbit optical remote sensing satellite into its planned orbit.

The new fairing, which is 5.2 meters in diameter, is over 6 meters longer than the fairing of previous Long March-5 rockets, according to Zhu Haiyang, designer of the two-stage Long March-5 rocket that is developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

The longer fairing enhances the loading capacity and mission adaptability of the Long March-5 and also makes its height exceed that of all Long March launch vehicles in commission.