On March 31, 2018, at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, the Long March 4C carrier rocket lifted the Gaofen-1 Satellites 02, 03, 04 into space. Subsequently, the three satellites accurately entered the preset orbit and the launch mission achieved a complete success.

Live video: the Long March 4C carrier rocket blasting off into space

The satellite cover assembly

The Long March 4C carrier rocket that carried out the launch mission was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. This is the first time that this type of rocket has been used to launch satellites in the way of “one rocket carrier with three satellites in series” at the satellite launch center in Taiyuan. In consideration of this, the rocket has adopted the highest configuration of the Long March 4C carrier rocket, with a length of nearly 49 meters. The three satellites were installed from top to bottom, respectively in the fairing and two load compartments.

The Long March 4C carrier rocket towering over the launch pad

In order to meet the requirements of the mission, a series of optimization and improvement measures were carried out on the Long March 4C carrier rocket, which not only successfully completed its first mission this year, but also laid a solid foundation for high-density launches in the future.

The mission was the 270th flight of the Long March series of launch vehicles, also the 94th flight test mission of the Long March series launch vehicle developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Reprinted from the Wechat Public Platform "Shanghai aerospace"