For our last launch of the week, on April 27 at 03:20 UTC, a Chinese Long March 6 rocket put a few small satellites into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite launch center. The Long March 6 is one of the new generations of Chinese rockets that use higher-performing and non-toxic RP-1 and LOX instead of the pretty but deadly Unsymmetrical Dimethyl Hydrazine and Nitrogen Tetroxide combination that the older Chinese rockets use. Onboard the three-stage vehicle were nine small payloads massing between 30 and 50 kilograms.,

Among the payloads delivered to orbit were Qilu-1, a radar imaging satellite; Qilu-4, an optical imaging satellite; four commercial imaging satellites; a technology demonstration satellite for real-time imaging; Tianqui 9, an Internet of Things communications satellite, and NEO-1, a technology demonstration satellite that will do an asteroid survey from orbit.

More Information

Space China press release (Chinese)

Long March-6 info page (Gunter’s Space Page)

Tianqi info page (Gunter’s Space Page)

Launch video