China's space technology institute sees launches of 400 spacecraft

BEIJING -- The China Academy of Space Technology has developed and successfully launched a total of 400 spacecraft with its Tianhui 6 twin satellites sent into space on Friday morning.

The two satellites were launched onboard a Long March 4C carrier rocket and will be used for geographic mapping, land resource survey, and scientific experiments, among others.

The CAST, affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, has witnessed the launch of its 400th spacecraft. It is also the developer of China's first satellite Dongfanghong 1.

The CASC plans to launch more than 200 spacecraft in about 60 space missions in 2023 and will see the 500th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series this year.

Three flight missions, namely the launches of the Tianzhou 6 cargo craft, the Shenzhou XVI and Shenzhou XVII manned spaceships, should take place within the year to improve the country's capability of entering, using, and exploring space, said the CASC.

It added that three backup satellites of the BeiDou 3 Navigation Satellite System will be sent into space this year.