China: A Chinese Long March 4B spacecraft has launched CBERS-3 (China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) satellite into orbit. The launch marks the fourth cooperative mission between China and Brazil. The launch took place from the LC9 Launch Complext at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. CBERS is a cooperative programme between China and Brazil.
The CBERS-3 spacecraft with a mass of 2,100 kg – consists of a hexahedron shaped structure divided in service and payload modules. The spacecraft’s solar panel is mounted on the -Y side panel and rotates around the Y axis, while the antennas, thrusters and attitude sensors – such as the sun sensors and infrared Earth sensors – are mounted on other panels. The Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem (AOCS) includes star sensors, sun sensors, infrared Earth sensors, gyros, GPS receiver, a control computer, momentum wheels and a hydrazine propulsion system. This was the 200th orbital launch by the Chinese, and their 188th success. It also marked 14th orbital launch by China in 2013 – with five of the launches taking place from Taiyuan.
Source: NASAspaceflight
