Kuaizhou-1A rocket with three satellites - First Chinese commercial mission

Q.  China on 9th Jan 2017 launched three satellites aboard its first commercial mission on which rocket?
- Published on 11 Jan 17

a. Kuaizhou-1A rocket
b. Guaizhou-1A rocket
c. Duaizhou-1A rocket
d. Tuaizhou-1A rocket

ANSWER: Kuaizhou-1A rocket
 
Kuaizhou-1A rocket with three satellites - First Chinese commercial missionChina on 9th Jan 2017 sent three satellites into space in its first commercial mission using an updated version of the low-cost Kuaizhou-1A rocket.

The rocket carried the satellite JL-1 and two CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1.

It blasted off from northwestern China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province at around 12:11 pm local time.

KZ-IA rocket was developed from the Kuaizhou-1 rocket programme with improvements in adaptability.

A low-cost solid- fuelled carrier rocket with high reliability and short preparation period, it was designed to launch low-orbit satellites weighing under 300 kg.

A rocket technology company under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation was responsible for the launch mission.

China plans to conduct a record number of 30 space launch missions this year.

The record-breaking space launches will be launched by Long March-5 and Long March-7 rockets.

Long March-5 is China’s largest carrier rocket.

China conducted 22 launch missions in 2016 and 19 in 2015.

The country successfully tested its Long March-7 rocket in June 2016.

China plans to provide space and aviation-related services to countries involved in its ‘One Belt and One Road’ initiative.

About the Three Satellites

JL-1
  • Multifunctional remote-sensing satellite.
  • It is providing high-definition video images
  • It expected to be used for land resource and forestry surveying, environmental protection, transport and disaster prevention and relief purposes.

  • XY-SI and Caton-1

  • Experimental satellites to test technologies.
  • Characterised by low-orbit narrow-band communication and VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) respectively.

Post your comment / Share knowledge


Enter the code shown above:

(Note: If you cannot read the numbers in the above image, reload the page to generate a new one.)