China’s first rocket launch in 2024 successfully sends 4 satellites into space

A Kuaizhou-1A rocket blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China, January 5, 2024. /CMG

A Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket carrying four meteorological satellites blasted off at 7:20 p.m. Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Friday.

The satellites successfully entered their designated orbit, marking the first win for China’s space program in 2024.

The four satellites, belonging to the Tianmu-1 meteorological constellation, will be mainly used to provide commercial meteorological data services.

The constellation is designed to acquire global atmosphere data for the comprehensive detection of the ocean, atmosphere and ionosphere for all time worldwide.

This launch was the 25th flight mission of the Kuaizhou-1A rockets, and the 30th launch for the Kuaizhou series.

Since March 22, 2023, this type of rocket has carried out five missions, sending 20 Tiamu-1 satellites into orbit.