HELSINKI \u2014 A Chinese commercial launch firm launched its first upgraded Kuaizhou-1A rocket late Tuesday, adding to the country\u2019s growing light-lift launch options.<\/p>
The enhanced Kuaizhou-1A rocket lifted off at 11:46 p.m. Eastern, Dec. 3 (0546 UTC, Dec. 4) from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China. The solid rocket climbed rapidly into blue skies above the spaceport. Commercial space launch firm Expace announced<\/a> launch success once it inserted its single satellite payload into its preset orbit. <\/p> The payload was announced to be Haishao-1, also referred to as CAS Satellite-8. It is described as a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing satellite. Haishao-1 can perform on-board imaging and extract marine dynamic information, offering broad application prospects.<\/p> The upgraded Kuaizhou-1A appears to have extended first and second stages, and a payload fairing extended from 1.4 to 1.8 meters. Its payload capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO) is increased from 300 kilograms to 450 kg. Its sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) capacity to 700 km altitude is increased from 200 kg to over 300 kg. The rocket also appears have an inverted upper stage and payload.<\/p>