China’s First Flight of DFH-5 Satellite Platform Succeeds

On January 5,2020,China’s heaviest and most advanced satellite,Shijian 20,reached its fixed position in its 36,000 kmgeosynchronous orbit after seven orbital maneuvers,marking the first successful flight of DFH-5 satellite platform.

The Shijian 20 satellite,weighing more than 8 t,was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology.With a design life of 16 years,the platform is 100% China developed and carries more than ten world advanced technology test payloads.

As the first to test the DFH-5 platform,the satellite has completed its orbit transfer and verified the key technologies of the DFH-5 satellite platform.It will carry out further in-orbit experiments and verifications.

At 20:45 Beijing time on December 27,2019,the LM-5 carrier rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center,launching the Shijian 20 satellite into its preset orbit after more than 2000 s of its liftoff.(ZONG Wen/CASC)

A Shijian 20 satellite is flying aboard a LM-5 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch CenterPhoto:SU Dong