China launches 401st flight of Long March rocket family

China launched a relay satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China early on Tuesday morning, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the nation's major space contractor.

A Long March 3B carrier rocket blasted off at 0:09 am and then deployed the Tianlian II-02 satellite into orbit, the State-owned company said in a statement. The mission marked the 401st flight of the Long March rocket family.

Developed by the company's China Academy of Space Technology, the satellite is tasked with tracking, control and data relay services to manned spacecraft, satellites and carrier rockets, according to the statement.

Its predecessor — the Tianlian II-01 — was the first in China's second generation of data relay satellites and was launched at the Xichang center in March 2019.

The Tianlian II satellites are expected to improve the country's space-based data relay capability, designers said.

China's first-generation data relay satellite network, the Tianlian I system, now has five satellites. The first was launched from Xichang in April 2008. They have served several important space functions such as rendezvous and dockings between the Tiangong I space lab and Shenzhou spaceships.

The Tianlian I system has also extensively boosted communications between Chinese spacecraft and ground control.

Compared with the first-generation model, satellites in the Tianlian II series feature stronger capabilities, heavier carrying capacity and longer life spans, designers said.

"Because of its newly developed antennas, the data transmission speed of the new-generation type is twice that of the first generation," said Zhao Hong, chief designer of the Tianlian II-01.

Tianlian II satellites can serve more spacecraft and have a larger operational range, he added.

China has carried out nearly 50 launch missions this year to place satellites and space station components in space.