The Long March 4B launch vehicle successfully carried out the "One Vehicle, Nine Satellites" mission at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, launching the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 04A and 8 small satellites. The satellite successfully entered the planned orbit, and the mission was successfully completed. 

▲The Long March 4B Launch vehicle is roaring up to the sky

When entering the orbit, the satellites will continue the tasks of CBERS-1 to collect remote sensing data for the purpose of meeting the needs of Chinese and Brazilian users in several fields including the survey, assessment, planning and testing of land and resources, emergency management, crop yield estimation, environmental protection and monitoring, urban planning, so as to deepen the South-South cooperation.

▲Transfer of Satellite-fairing Assembly

The Long March 4B, carrying on this mission, is a room-temperature liquid three-stage launch vehicle primarily developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, capable of launching multiple satellites and single satellite and multi-satellites with different orbit requirements.

It’s the first time for Long March 4 launch vehicle to send 9 satellites via one vehicle. The 805 Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology has chosen the launch configuration with the “fairing and transition module” in series and eight satellites in parallel. The eight small satellites were carried by the transition module added below the support module of the main satellite.

In February 1989, the former Ministry of Space Industry issued the “Notice on Launching CBERS-1 by the Long March 4 Launch Vehicles”, which approved that after adaptive improvement, the Long March 4A launch vehicle could be used to launch CBERS-1. In September 1993, the former National Aerospace Industry Corporation issued the vehicle development and production plan. Six vehicles in 01 batch were in a unified status, went into operation and were officially named as the Long March 4B vehicles.

On October 14, 1999, the CBERS-01 was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center by the Yao Yi Launch Vehicle from the 01 batch of Long March 4B.

On October 21 2003, the last vehicle from the 01 batch of Long March 4B successfully sent the CBERS-02 into orbit.

On December 7, 2014, after the successful launch of CBERS-04 by a Long March 4B vehicle, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with his Brazilian counterpart to celebrate another victory in South-South cooperation. The launch also made China the third country for the 200^th flight after the United States and Russia. On December 9, 2014, China and Brazil signed the letter of intent for cooperation on the CBERS-04 in Beijing.

Up to now, the Long March 4B launch vehicles have mainly focused on the launch of CBERS and Fengyun satellites, with the CBERS for 13 times.

This launch also carried eight satellites, including the Ethiopia’s wide-range multi-spectral remote-sensing microsatellite, Tianqin-1 technology test satellite, Brazil small satellites etc.

This launch also carried the “Yuheng” and “Shuntian”, the space-based low-orbit test dual satellites developed by the Shanghai ASES Spaceflight Technology Corporation, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the 805 Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. The users of the satellites are the National University of Defense Technology and the Deya Innovation Research Institute in Shunde District of Foshan City.

▲Lifting of Satellite- fairing Assembly

The mission was carried out by Long March 4B, a room temperature liquid three-stage launch vehicle primarily developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, capable of launching multiple satellite and single satellite and multi-satellites with different orbit requirements.

▲The Long March 4B Launch Vehicle Ready to Launch

It is the 322^nd flight of the Long March launch vehicles, and the 112^nd flight test of the Long March launch vehicles primarily developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Source: Wechat Official Account of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation