At 11:26, September 12th, 2019 BJT, 5-meter Optical Satellite is successfully launched by Long March 4B (LM-4B) launch vehicle from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), aboard with two small satellites, ICE-PATHFINDER (also known as BNU-1) of Beijing Normal University and Taurus-1 of Shanghai ASES Spaceflight Technology Co. Ltd.

ICE-PATHFINDER is the first in-orbit delivery small satellite program conducted by CGWIC as the prime contractor. It is designed and manufactured by Aerospace Dongfanghong Development Ltd. Shenzhen, China, and its customer is College of Global Change and Earth System Science of Beijing Normal University. As a polar observation scientific experimental satellite, ICE-PATHFINDER is dedicating to the observation of key channel area in polar region.

Taurus-1 is designed and manufactured by Shanghai ASES Spaceflight Technology Co. Ltd. It is a satellite for in-orbit verification of de-orbit sun solar sail payload.

The main passenger of this mission, 5-meter Optical Satellite, is the first hyperspectral satellite of natural resource satellite observation system, which is led by Natural Resource Department, and it is capable to sufficiently collect multispectral with wide width and hyperspectral data. It has broad application prospects in resource and energy exploration, land science and technology innovation, and environmental pollution monitoring. 5-meter Optical Satellite is designed and manufactured by China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The LM-4B Launch Vehicle is designed and manufactured by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). Both SAST and CAST are subordinated to China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (CASC).

This mission marks the 310th flight of Long March series launch vehicle and the 33rd flight of LM-4B launch vehicle. CGWIC will perform rideshare launches for 10 more satellites of both international and domestic customers within 2019.

CGWIC is a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). It is the sole commercial agency authorized by the Chinese government to provide commercial launch services, including piggyback launches, provide satellites in-orbit delivery services and develop international space cooperation as well as technology cooperation. It is the system integrator for China aerospace products and services. CGWIC can completely supply the satellite in-orbit delivery and the construction of satellite ground systems for domestic and international customers, with all-round and one-stop services to meet the diversified demands of the customers.

Date:2019-09-12