A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Tianlian II-02 satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan province, Dec 14, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
XICHANG – China sent a new data relay satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan province early Tuesday morning.
Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Tianlian II-02 is the country's second-generation data relay satellite, which will be tasked with relaying data for spaceships, space labs, and its future space station
The Tianlian II-02 satellite was launched at 0:09 am Beijing Time by a Long March-3B carrier rocket.
It was the 401st flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.
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Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Tianlian II-02 is the country's second-generation data relay satellite, which will be tasked with relaying data for spaceships, space labs, and its future space station.
It will also offer data relay services for low- and mid-orbiting satellites and will be used to track and monitor spacecraft launches, the company said in a statement.
Compared with its predecessor Tianlian II-01, the newly launched satellite has enhanced capability to serve multiple users and can better work in different orbital positions.
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China sent its first Tianlian satellite on April 25, 2008. After Tuesday's launch, the country currently has a total of seven relay satellites in orbit.