by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor
China’s newest booster, Long March 8, successfully placed five satellites into sun-synchronous orbit on Tuesday from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in a step toward partial reusability. The medium-lift booster blasted off at 12:37 p.m. local time from Hainan island carrying the classified XJY-7 remote sensing technology test satellite and four smaller payloads.
“The relevant satellite payloads will verify the microwave imaging and other technologies in orbit, and carry out space science, remote sensing, and communication technology experiments and applications,” the China National Space Administration said in a press release.
Long March 8 first stage with side boosters lands on offshore platform.