China uses upgraded version of Kuaizhou 1A carrier rocket to launch satellite

China on Wednesday used an upgraded version of the Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket to launch a new remote-sensing satellite into orbit.

The upgraded version of the Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket, carrying the new remote-sensing satellite equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 12:46 Beijing Time (0446 GMT) on Wednesday.

The upgraded version of the Kuaizhou-1A, a solid-propellant rocket, has a stronger payload capacity, higher reliability and improved performance.

"The fairing diameter has been enlarged from 1.4 to 1.8 meters, and the payload capacity of the Kuaizhou-1A in low Earth orbit has increased from 300 to 450 kilograms. Additionally, we have incorporated various technologies, including optimized high-load ratios, detasking, landing area control, and online parameter adjustment, which enhance the rocket's reliability and performance," said Fan Wei, deputy chief designer of the Kuaizhou-1A.

The mission development team also further optimized the orbital control scheme and applied landing control and other technologies, improving both the mission's adaptability and reliability, enabling it to undertake various types of launch missions, according to Fan. "Moving forward, the Kuaizhou-1A and Kuaizhou-11 will complement each other to form a system of low- and high-orbit carrier rockets, which will better serve the domestic microsatellite market," Fan said.

Remote sensing satellites refer to those tasked with observing, surveying and measuring objects on land or at sea as well as monitoring weather.

The mission marked the 28th flight of the Kuaizhou 1A model as well as China's 61st space launch so far this year.

Developed by China Space Sanjiang Group, the 20-meter Kuaizhou 1A is the country's most used solid-propellant carrier rocket model.

Two black-necked cranes were caught on film in Qilian County, northwest China's Qinghai Province, with one courting the other on the county's sprawling Mole Grassland.

The footage captured by an amateur photographer shows the cranes strolling together in the grass. The male tries to catch the female's eye by bobbing its head, making a detour, and changing standing positions.

The male also performed various poses and spread its wings to dance. However, all the attempts failed to get into the good graces of the companion. At last, the crane gave up the courtship display.

Black-necked cranes are under national first-class protection in China and a flagship species of the plateau wetland ecosystem.