China has put a new communication satellite into orbit from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The “ChinaSat 1C” satellite was carried by the Long March-3B carrier rocket. It will provide high-quality voice, data and radio and TV transmission services. A new US report released last month said China has the most rapidly growing space programme in the world. Since October 2014, China had launched 16 spacecraft that had expanded its satellite communications and surveillance capabilities, including the first satellite that provided very high resolution imagery.

The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and is owned by China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. This is the 220th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

China is preparing for the first launch of its Long March-9 rocket in 2028. This will be the country’s first manned lunar mission. Its payload will be 130 tons, which coincides with the lift capability of the Space Launch System being developed by NASA.

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