HELSINKI — China launched a new internet technology experiment satellite from a sea platform Tuesday, apparently continuing tests for a low Earth orbit megaconstellation.
The Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) solid rocket lifted off from a mobile sea platform from waters off the coast of Yangjiang, Guangdong province, at 2:24 p.m. Eastern (1924 UTC) Dec. 5. Launch success was declared around two hours after liftoff.
The launch confirmed new solid launch capabilities and longer-range sea launches, providing greater redundancy and flexibility for China’s access to space.
The internet test satellite was tracked by U.S. Space Force space domain awareness in a 904 x 922-kilometer altitude orbit inclined by 86 degrees. Details of the payload have not been disclosed.
It is the third Chinese launch this year which has been carrying satellites described as testing satellite internet technologies. The previous missions were a Long March 2D launch from Xichang in November and a launch from Jiuquan in July.
China is planning the construction of a national satellite internet megaconstellation, named Guowang. The project envisions launching 13,000 satellites into low Earth orbit.
The Jielong-3 is a four-stage rocket that can carry 1,500 kilograms of payload into a 500-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).
China Rocket Co. Ltd., a commercial spinoff from CALT, a main launch vehicle manufacturing arm under the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), developed the Jielong-3. CASC is China’s main space contractor.
Jielong-3 has close similarities in terms of lift…
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