Once more into the upper reaches, China launched a new ocean-monitoring satellite on Wednesday, May 19, into orbit.
The launch occurred from the nation’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
A Long March-4B rocket, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, carried the Haiyang-2D (HY-2D) satellite to orbit. The launch occurred at 12:03 a.m. (Beijing Time), according to the launch center. The satellite was manufactured by the China Academy of Science (CAST).
In combo with China’s HY-2B and HY-2C satellites, the HY-2D will form a constellation that will supply the country with around the clock ocean environment monitoring as well as weather data. The satellites will also support the nation’s marine disasters early warning system as well as being tasked to monitor ocean resource use and for research projects.