China has successfully launched two scientific satellites, including a “nano-satellite” for the first time, heralding a breakthrough in space technology. A ‘Long March II C’ rocket carrying Nano-Satellite I, which weighs just 25 kg and an “Experiment Satellite I”, weighing 204 kg blasted off at 23:59 hrs on Sunday from the Xichang satellite launch centre in Sichuan province. The successful launch has made China the fourth country in the world that is capable of launching nano-satellites after Russia, the United States and Britain, Chinese space experts said.
Nano-satellite I is the first nanotechnolgy-based satellite developed by the elite Qinghua University and Aerospace Qinghua Satellite Technologies Co. Ltd. Based on nanotechnology the satellite features lighter weight and higher degree of integrated designing. It represents one of the most important orientations for the world’s contemporary aerospace technology and forecasts the development trend that spacecraft are getting smaller and smaller, the experts said.
While heralding micro satellites as a revolution in aerospace, Chinese experts said China had treated the development of super small satellites as an important way to serve economic growth and benefit mankind by using space technologies. Before the latest launch, China had successfully sent into orbit small satellites for the purposes of scientific experiments, resource survey, natural disaster forecast and environment prospecting and monitoring.
