the first shenzhen-made satellite made its way to space sunday, along with 19 other satellites carried by the long march-6, a newly developed carrier rocket that took off from a launch base in shanxi province, shenzhen special zone daily reported yesterday.
the explore-1 satellite, designed and produced by shenzhen aerospace dongfanghong development co. ltd., consists of a satellite-a that weighs 110 kilograms and satellite-b, which weighs only 2 kilograms.
“it’s the first shenzhen-made satellite and the latest achievement of our research center,” said zhang hua, the company’s chairman, who added that the satellite was designed, assembled and tested in shenzhen.
the satellite will be used to conduct experiments, as well as explore space. researchers used industrial-grade products to develop the satellite, keeping production costs down.
feng yong, the company’s general manager, said the use of small satellites can avoid the expenses associated with producing and launching larger satellites.
feng said satellites have witnessed a technical breakthrough recently.
the company, which plans to send 20 more satellites to space by 2020, aims to produce satellites and support companies that use them.
most of the satellite’s components are produced by local manufacturers in shenzhen, including the solar battery pieces, accumulators and the power supply and distribution system used on satellite-a.
“we are impressed by shenzhen’s enterprises because they have provided low-cost and high-efficiency products for us, and our cooperation with institutes in hong kong and macao also leads to outstanding technical achievements,” feng added.
the explore-1 satellite separated from long march-6 after the rocket took off. satellite-b has also successfully separated from satellite-a.
the long march-6, fueled by liquid propellant made of liquid oxygen and kerosene, is china’s first carrier rocket that uses environmentally friendly fuel.
(source:shenzhen daily)
