On October 14, at 10:51 UTC, a Chinese Long March 2D launched eleven satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March 2D rocket included grid fins on its first stage to reduce the size of its smash-down area and avoid hitting human structures, a first for this particular variant of the Long March rocket.

Among the eleven satellites was Xihe, China’s first solar observation satellite technology test satellite, also called CHASE or China H Alpha Solar Explorer. It operates in the H-alpha band, the spectral line most emitted by the Sun, and also has other missions. Its secondary purpose is to test a highly accurate pointing and stability system using “maglev technology”.

This was the 391st launch of a Long March rocket across all versions.

And now for another Long March launch, this time with humans.

More Information

CASC press release