Twin BeiDou 3 Satellites Launched Successfully

The LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 rocket sits on the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center waiting to carry twin BeiDou 3 satellites into orbit

A LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 launch vehicle carried out a launch mission at 05：10 Beijing time on September 23,sending two BeiDou global navigation satellites into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.The satellites entered their preset orbit successfully after separation from the upper stage of the rocket.

It was the 13th launch of the BeiDou global navigation satellite system (BeiDou 3 Project).The two Intermediate Circle Orbit satellites are the 22nd and 23rd satellites in the system,as well as the 47th and 48th BeiDou navigation satellites launched by China.They were developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

The two satellites are equipped with lightweight hydrogen atomic clocks for the first time for satellites operating in orbit.They also carry a new type of processor for their navigation mission,with an improved performance index and service quality for the satellites.An international rescue payload was piggybacked on the mission for further improved rescue ability and service area.

The mission marks the transition and upgrading of BeiDou 3 networking from a basic system to a complete system,also reflecting the intensified launches of BeiDou satellites in 2019.

The LM-3B/Yuanzheng 1 launch vehicle was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology(CALT).It is a 4-stage rocket composed of a basic stage and an upper stage.The basic stage has a strap-on 3-stage liquid carrier rocket,which was modified based on the LM-3B launch vehicle to adapt to the use of an upper stage.The first stage has 4 strap-on boosters.The upper stage is an orbital vehicle using conventional propellant,which was specially developed for launching the new-generation BeiDou navigation satellites.

This was the 104th launch of the LM-3A series launch vehicle,and the 312th flight of the Long March series launch vehicle.(ZHENG Enhong/SHEN Xin/China Space News)