China’s Record Launch of 22 Satellites

February 28, 2022

On February 27, 2022, China launched a Long March-8 rocket to place 22 satellites in space.

Highlights

With the launch, China set a domestic record for the most spacecraft launched by a single rocket.
The rocket blasted off at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern Hainan Province. It sent the satellites into pre-set orbits.
It marked the 409th flight of Long March carrier rockets.

Uses of the satellites

These satellites will be used for commercial remote sensing services, forest fire prevention, marine environment monitoring, and disaster mitigation.

Long March 8

Long March-8 rocket is an orbital launch vehicle. It has been developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. It can launch up to 5000 kg into Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) with an altitude of 700 km. It is based on the Long March 7 with its first stage and two boosters. It also uses existing liquid hydrogen burning third stage of Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A as its second stage. First flight of the Long March 8 was launched on December 22, 2020 from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.

Long March 7

Long March 7 is a Chinese liquid-fuelled launch vehicle, belonging to Long March family. It has been developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CAST). Its inaugural flight was made on June 25, 2016. It was designed as a replacement of Long March 2F.

Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO)

Sun-synchronous orbit is also called a heliosynchronous orbit. It is a nearly polar orbit around a planet. In this orbit, satellite passes over any given point of the surface of planet at the same local mean solar time. It is an orbit arranged so that it undergoes one complete revolution each year, thus, maintaining same relationship with the Sun.

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