According to the official wechat news of China Aerospace Science and technology group, at 5:10 a.m. on September 23, China successfully launched two Beidou global navigation satellites by using the long march 3B / expedition 1 carrier rocket at Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Subsequently, the upper stage of the rocket separated from the binary satellite, the satellite successfully entered the predetermined orbit, and the launch was a complete success.
▲ Long March 3B / expedition 1 launch vehicle was ignited and launched (Photo by Nan Yong)
This mission is the 13th launch of the Beidou global satellite navigation system (Beidou 3 project). The satellite is developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is the 22nd and 23rd satellites of the system, as well as the 47th and 48th Beidou navigation satellite launched by China. It belongs to the medium circular orbit satellite.
▲ Long March 3B / expedition 1 carrier rocket soared to the sky (Photo by Xie Qiyong)
These two satellites are the first to be equipped with a lightweight hydrogen atomic clock in their orbit. They are also equipped with a new navigation task processor for the first time, effectively improving the performance index and service quality of the satellite. In addition, the mission also carries an international search and rescue payload, which can further improve the search and rescue capability and scope.
This mission marks the beginning of the transition and upgrading of beidou-3 networking from a basic system to a complete system, and also means that this year's Beidou satellite has entered a high-density launch period.
▲ star shield assembly transition (photographed by Nan Yong)
The long march 3B / Yuanzheng 1 carrier rocket for this launch mission is developed by the first Academy of Aerospace Science and technology group. It is a four-stage rocket composed of basic stage and upper stage. The basic stage rocket is a bundled three-stage liquid rocket developed on the basis of the long march 3B rocket in order to adapt to the use of the upper stage. Its first sub stage is bundled with four boosters. The upper stage is an orbital carrier with conventional propellant specially developed for launching China's new generation Beidou navigation satellite.
This mission is the 104th launch of the "gold medal rocket" long 3A series and the 312th flight of the long march series carrier rocket.