CHINA SENDS NEW SATELLITE INTO ORBIT FOR RADAR CALIBRATION BOOST

Thu 03 April 2025:

China has announced that it has successfully launched a new satellite into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi province.

The satellite, Tianping-3A 02, was launched at 10.12 a.m. Beijing time (0212GMT) aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket and entered its preset orbit successfully, Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

The launch marks the 568th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series, it said.

The satellite will be primarily used for the calibration of ground-based radar equipment and radar cross section (RCS) measurement.

It will support imaging experiments for ground-based optical equipment and monitoring tests of the low-orbit space environment, the report said.

It will also provide services for atmospheric space environment measurement and orbital prediction model correction.

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China’s space ambitions kicked off in the 1950s with missile research, evolving into a full-fledged program under the China National Space Administration (CNSA). They launched their first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1, in 1970, and by 2003, became the third nation to send a human into space with Yang Liwei aboard Shenzhou 5.

Since then, they’ve built the Tiangong space station, a rival to the International Space Station, after being excluded from it due to U.S. concerns over military ties. Their lunar program, Chang’e, has been a standout—landing on the Moon’s far side with Chang’e-4 in 2019 and returning samples with Chang’e-5 and 6. They’ve also sent the Zhurong rover to Mars in 2021, making them the second country to operate a rover there.

Looking ahead, China aims to land taikonauts on the Moon by 2030, build a lunar base, and explore Mars, Jupiter, and beyond. With over 100 launches planned for 2024, their program blends science, military strategy, and national pride, positioning them as a rising space power challenging the U.S. and Russia.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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