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

China

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

2024-12-04 21:28 Last Updated At：12-05 11:37

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.

Shenzhen Airport sees record passenger traffic from APEC economies in first ten months

Foreign passenger traffic from APEC member economies at Shenzhen Airport hit a historic high of 1.25 million in the first ten months of this year, local border inspection authorities said on Monday, as the city prepares to host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting later this month.

The 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, from November 18 to 19, with preparations in the final stretch.

As the meeting approaches, the airport port is seeing another surge in passenger flow, with international flights from APEC member economies including South Korea, Mexico and Malaysia arriving in succession at noon on Monday.

In addition to the APEC meeting, visa-free policies and the expansion of the international route network have driven notable growth in foreign passenger flows this year. In the first ten months, foreign nationals entering and exiting through the airport port totaled about 1.56 million passenger trips, up 27.7 percent year on year and a record high for the same period, according to the border inspection station.

A total of 1.25 million foreign nationals from APEC member economies received border inspection, up 29.6 percent year on year, also a record high for the same period. Travelers from Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, and the United States ranked among the top sources.