China launches classified communication satellite with powerful rocket
The last satellite launched under the classified military programme was in early November, though the smaller medium-lift Long March 7A rocket was used. State media reported that the satellite was also to be used for largely multi-band and high-speed communication technology experiments, without elaborating.
- Country:
- China
China on Friday launched the 11th satellite under a classified Chinese military programme with the country's most powerful rocket. Chinese state media reported the successful launch of the satellite from the southern island of Hainan with a Long March 5 rocket.
No details on the satellite were given except that it will be mainly used for "multi-band and high-speed communication technology experiments". The powerful Long March 5 rocket is normally used to launch very large payloads.
A Long March 5 rocket was last used in December to launch a large optical remote sensing satellite into orbit. The last satellite launched under the classified military programme was in early November, though the smaller medium-lift Long March 7A rocket was used.
State media reported that the satellite was also to be used for largely multi-band and high-speed communication technology experiments, without elaborating. Western orbital data previously indicated a satellite under the programme approached a U.S. satellite in at least one instance in 2022.
The U.S. Space Force has previously complained about one of its satellites being followed by two Russian satellites.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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