China launches astronomical research satellites with Long March rocket

China launched the Tanluzhe 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D astronomical research satellites with a Long March 2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest of the country, and the satellites reached their planned positions.

According to Xinhua's report, this launch was recorded as the 677th transport mission carried out with Long March rockets. Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences within the scope of the Space Origins Research Program, the main system satellite Tanluzhe 1A carries research equipment such as a wide-field gamma-ray telescope, a magnetic field and velocity field imager, an upper atmosphere laser imager, a plasma meter, and a space weather observation instrument.

It is planned that the Tanluzhe 1B, 1C and 1D satellites will perform low-frequency radio interferometer observations separately from the main satellite. The satellites, which are projected to operate in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit for two years, aim to confirm the validity of technologies to be used in future space research.