CHINA NEW RECORD - LAUNCHES 22 SATELLITES

Context:

China launched a Long March-8 rocket into orbit on February 27, 2022, to launch 22 satellites setting a domestic record for the most spacecraft launched by a single rocket.

Key Points:

• China set a new domestic record for the most satellites launched by a single rocket with this launch.
• The rocket took off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province's south. It placed the satellites in predetermined orbits.
• Long March carrier rockets flew for the 409th time.

Satellites Usage

These satellites will benefit from commercial remote sensing services, forest fire-prevention, marine environment monitoring, and catastrophe mitigation.

Development of the Long March-8 rocket

• An orbital launch vehicle is the Long March-8 rocket.
• The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology designed it.
• It can launch up to 5000 kg into Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at the height of 700 kilometers.
• Its first stage and two boosters are based on the Long March 7.
• The second stage employs the existing liquid hydrogen-burning third stage of the Long March 3A/3B/3C and 7A.
• The Long March 8 made its first flight on December 22, 2020, from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site.

Significance of Long March 7 

• It belongs to the Long March family of Chinese liquid-fuelled launch vehicles.
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation created it (CAST). It took off for the first time on June 25, 2016.
• It was created to replace the Long March 2F.

The launches were China's third and fourth orbital missions in 2022 and the first after a long hiatus for the Lunar New Year. In 2021, China achieved a new domestic record of 55 launches, eclipsing the previous record of 39 in 2018 and 2020.