What satellites has China launched in recent years? Urgent!!!!!!!!!!! Soon.

As of May 2006, the Chinese government has developed and launched 50 artificial earth satellites of different types, with a flight success rate of more than 90%.

A review of the development of my country's satellite launch situation

Since the successful launch of China's first "Dongfanghong" artificial earth satellite on April 24, 1970, after 30 years of development, China's The level of satellite development and manufacturing technology has been continuously improved, and a variety of satellites have been successfully developed, forming a series of different application satellites, making each Chinese satellite radiate dazzling light in space.

My country has launched more than 50 satellites with the Long March series of launch vehicles, including 9 scientific and technological experimental satellites, 17 returnable remote sensing satellites, 9 communication and broadcast satellites, 2 meteorological satellites, and resource remote sensing satellites. There are 2 satellites, 2 navigation and positioning satellites, 2 balloon satellites for measuring atmospheric density, and 10 foreign satellites. The successful launch of these satellites not only reflects the rapid development level of our country's science and technology, making our country enter the ranks of the world's aerospace powers, but also plays a role in promoting national economic development and social progress, as well as improving its international status. extremely important role.

Science and Technology Experimental Satellites

Among the 9 science and technology experimental satellites launched by our country, the first 8 were launched from the Jiuquan Launch Center, and the last one was launched from the Xichang Launch Center of. Among the nine satellites, two satellites, "Dongfanghong-1" and "Shijian-1", were launched using the "Long March 1" rocket. The three satellites "Technical Experiment Satellite 1", "Technical Experiment Satellite 2" and "Technical Experiment Satellite 3" were launched into space by the "Storm 1" carrier rocket. Then, "Storm 1" also launched three other experimental satellites, namely "Shijian-2", "Shijian-2A" and "Shijian-2B", using the method of killing three stars with one stone, and successfully launched them in one fell swoop. The ninth satellite is "Shijian-4", which is a geosynchronous transfer orbit satellite launched into space using the "Long March 3A" carrier rocket. These nine satellites not only operate normally in space, but also make positive contributions to the development of new satellite technologies and space physics exploration in our country.

For example, my country's first man-made earth satellite, starting from the second half of 1965, after more than four years of development, completed the satellite's final assembly test and various space environment tests in early 1970. In order to allow people around the world to directly see the heroic appearance of the satellite in space and hear the loud sound it makes with the naked eye, the technical solution adopted is: after the satellite and the launch vehicle separate into orbit, the final stage rocket will follow the satellite in orbit. To operate in space, an "observation skirt" was specially added to this stage of the rocket to increase the brightness of the rocket; at the same time, the "The East Is Red" music generator and broadcast system are installed in the satellite's shell. In order to launch this satellite, the "Long March 1" three-stage carrier rocket was specially developed. The satellite launch site was also renovated and expanded based on the original missile launch test site. Many new ground observation stations were also built across the country. Although all of this has been demonstrated and necessary tests conducted in advance, whether it will be successful in the end remains to be seen in the flight test on April 24. The successful launch of the first artificial satellite comprehensively assessed and verified the effectiveness and coordination of the satellite, rocket, launch site and measurement and control network systems. After the satellite was put into orbit, all systems on the satellite worked normally, achieving the requirements of "visible, heard and graspable". In a certain sense, this is also the first major achievement of my country's science and technology experimental satellite.

On February 9, 1994, my country’s 9th science and technology experimental satellite, "Shijian-4", was successfully launched aboard the "Long March 3A" carrier rocket. This is my country's first science and technology experimental satellite. Another major achievement in the research and development. The main detection purpose of the "Shijian-4" space exploration satellite is to measure the charged particle environment in near-Earth space and study their impact on spacecraft. According to the distribution field of charged particles in space, the satellite chose an ideal orbit with a perigee height of 200 kilometers, an apogee height of 36,000 kilometers, and an inclination angle of 28 degrees. At perigee, the satellite is below the edge of the radiation belt. As the satellite moves toward a higher orbit, the satellite will enter the radiation belt and pass through the area with the strongest radiation, and finally reach areas beyond the outer edge of the radiation belt. In this way, the satellite has about twice a day the opportunity to measure a complete profile of the radiation belt along its height distribution. In order to achieve the predetermined detection purpose, the satellite is equipped with 5 detection instruments in total, including 6 high-energy electron detectors, high-energy proton and heavy ion detectors, plasma detectors, potential monitors and single particle event detectors. Due to the careful consideration of the equipped instruments, the components of the charged particles detected can be relatively complete. In addition to electrons and protons, there are also heavy ions. The detected energy is also relatively wide, covering almost all energy ranges that have an impact on the spacecraft. While detecting the parameters of charged particles in the space environment, it can also monitor the effects of the environment on satellites.

The successful launch of "Shijian-4" not only provides complete and mutually confirmable first-hand data for the study of the interaction process between charged particles in space and spacecraft. It also gives us a new understanding of the "radiation belts", "ionosphere", "plasma layer" and "solar wind" composed of charged particles that fill the space, as well as their impact on spacecraft, so as to ultimately achieve It is a welcome step towards mitigating and eliminating their damage to spacecraft.

Returnable remote sensing satellites

The 17 returnable remote sensing satellites that our country has launched are all low-Earth orbit satellites launched from the Jiuquan base. Three satellites in the 1970s were launched into space using the "Long March 2" rocket; eight in the 1980s and the 12th and 14th satellites in the 1990s were launched into space using the "Long March 2C" rocket; The 13th, 16th, and 17th satellites were successfully launched one after another using the "Long March 2D" carrier rocket. These 16 satellites all successfully returned and landed in the predetermined landing area in Sichuan. Among them, the three satellites that returned to the earth on November 4, 1992, 1994 and 1996 belong to my country's second generation of returnable satellites. The new remote sensors carried on the satellites are at the internationally advanced level, with a resolution of several meters, and remote sensing images. It is clear and fully marked, and the amount of information is 13 times that of the first generation return satellite. The only regret is that the 15th satellite launched by the "Long March 2C" rocket on October 8, 1993 did not return to the motherland as planned. After wandering in the vast space for three and a half years, it was finally It crashed in the southern Atlantic Ocean on March 12, 1996.

Since the primary purpose of my country's development and application of satellites is to break the monopoly of space technology by the world's aerospace powers and serve strategic policies, developing returnable satellites and mastering recycling technology have become a priority for our country to overcome. important topic. Therefore, as early as the 1960s, the Party Central Committee approved in principle the development of returnable reconnaissance satellites. While developing the first satellite, key technologies such as optical cameras, infrared cameras, special films, and attitude control required for reconnaissance satellites were included in the advance research plan. In the early 1970s, after my country's first returnable photoreconnaissance satellite was officially included in the national plan, the central leadership paid special attention to the development of this satellite during the chaotic years of the "Cultural Revolution". On November 15, 1975, the returnable satellite and the "Long March 2" carrier rocket completed the technical position testing work at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and were immediately transferred to the launch site. It was launched on time on November 26. The satellite accurately entered the predetermined orbit. The perigee altitude of the orbit is 173 kilometers, the apogee altitude is 483 kilometers, and the orbit inclination angle is 63 degrees. Not only did the orbit entry accuracy meet the design requirements, but after the satellite orbited 47 times in space, it pressed the remote control station again. Send the return posture adjustment remote control command to return safely. This enabled our country to experience the joy of successfully launching a satellite back to the ground for the first time. In December 1976, on the great day when the "Gang of Four" was crushed, another returnable satellite of our country's improved design successfully completed its launch, reconnaissance and recovery missions. In January 1978, our country once again launched a returnable satellite, which returned three days later.

On September 9, 1982, my country’s newly developed practical returnable satellite was successful. Since then, returnable satellites have entered a more practical stage. Throughout the 1980s, eight satellites were launched at once, with success every time. This made our country the only three countries in the world after the United States and the former Soviet Union that truly mastered the development and launch technology of returnable satellites. one. Not only has it created a historical record of 100% successful launches, but the quality and level of returnable satellites have also increased year by year. With the acceleration of commercialization of the aerospace market, my country's returnable satellites began to enter the international market as a micro-motion test platform in August 1987, and have successively undertaken on-board tests in France, Germany, Sweden and other countries. Internationally, has had an increasingly important impact.

The 16th returnable satellite launched by our country on July 3, 1994 achieved great results. Chinese experts tested a "new technology for full-attitude capture" on the satellite and obtained the ability to enable the satellite to capture in any attitude. All can be restored to normal operation with satisfactory results. What is even more unforgettable is that at 3:20 pm on October 20, 1996, my country's "Long March 2D" carrier rocket successfully lifted up the 17th returnable satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which had been dormant for two years. Send it to space. The satellite flew 239 times around the earth according to its planned orbit and traveled for 15 days. Under the precise control of the Xi'an Satellite Measurement and Control Center, it "came down to earth" accurately in the Shuzhong area of ??Sichuan Province. This satellite not only set a new record of 15 days in space, but also conducted a 17-category carrying test for the first time, which has never been done before. Among the 17 types of equipment, there is a 10-kilogram multi-functional biological incubator carried by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. There are many experimental instruments in the box. One of them is specially placed for myocardial observation and pathological reaction experiments under weightlessness. A small turtle less than the size of an egg. Another experiment in the biobox is a neuronal growth and development experiment in cytology. Neurons were taken from the brain cells of a young mouse that had just arrived in this world. The biological box also carries two kinds of plants: one is cypress (commonly known as asparagus) with anti-cancer effects; the other is radish seedlings that have grown to 1 to 2 centimeters high. The purpose of these two plant experiments is mainly to study their spatial variation mechanisms and other reactions under microgravity. In addition, biotanks were used to conduct experiments on aquatic organisms and microorganisms.

Among the 17 categories of onboard experiments, space breeding is a routine experiment, but it is very eye-catching.

Because since 1978, our country has carried more than 400 varieties of seeds of rice, wheat, vegetables, flowers, and traditional Chinese medicine on returnable satellites many times, and has been transported to more than 70 units in more than 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across the country. The participating ground tests proved that using the special environment of space to treat seeds, and then returning to the ground for breeding and trial planting, achieved good results, opening up a new way of scientific breeding.

The 17th returnable satellite is also responsible for multiple tasks such as land census, resource detection, geological and seismic surveys, rural water conservancy construction, urban planning and scientific experiments. Not only did they test new electronic technologies, they also completed 6 material experiments with controllable temperature fields. One of them was to melt a metal material after being heated to 970 degrees Celsius in space and observe its re-solidification phenomenon in microgravity. Very satisfactory results were obtained. During the installation, a number of material experiments and lithium battery space tests were also conducted. As a satellite development unit, the China Academy of Space Technology did not miss this opportunity. It used satellite-carrying experiments to conduct research on a high-dynamic GPS autonomous navigation and positioning system, and conducted the first application test of an optical disc in space, with fruitful results.

But the most exciting thing is that there are two most precious items in the recovery cabin of this satellite. One is the flag of the Republic of China and the other is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Regional flag. On the eve of Hong Kong's return to the motherland in 1997, which attracted worldwide attention, the China Aerospace Industry Corporation used the 17th satellite to realize the "Five-Star Bauhinia Soaring into Space", expressing the "aerospace people's" commitment to welcoming Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the great cause of the motherland's reunification. Heart.

Communications and Broadcasting Satellites

Of the 9 communication and broadcasting satellites that have been launched in my country, the first 7 were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using the "Long March 3" rocket. In addition to the first "Experimental Communication Satellite No. 1" and the seventh "Practical Communication Satellite No. 5" that failed to enter the geosynchronous transfer orbit, another experimental communication satellite as well as the "Practical Communication Satellite No. 1" and "Practical Communication Satellite No. 5" failed to enter the geosynchronous transfer orbit. Five satellites including "Practical Communications Satellite 2", "Practical Communications Satellite 3" and "Practical Communications Satellite 4" have all entered the geostationary orbit at a height of 36,000 kilometers above the equator as scheduled, and have been fixed at 125 degrees east longitude and 103 degrees east longitude respectively. degrees, 87.5 degrees, 110·5 degrees and 98 degrees. The 8th and 9th communication satellites, both called "Dongfanghong 3", were launched from the Xichang Launch Center by the "Long March 3A' rocket. Unfortunately, it was launched on November 30, 1994 The seventh satellite, the first launch of the "Dongfanghong-3" communications satellite, was unable to settle at its intended location due to a leak in the attitude control engine on the satellite and the fuel was exhausted early.

Since modern satellite communication technology using satellites as relay stations usually works in the microwave frequency band and has large communication capacity, the communication method is not easily affected by the ionosphere, troposphere and meteorological conditions, nor is it affected by geographical conditions such as mountains, rivers, oceans, deserts, etc. Limitations, satellite communications also have the advantages of long transmission distance, high transmission quality, cheap long-distance communication and the ability to achieve multiple access connections. Therefore, after the successful launch of my country’s first artificial satellite “Dongfanghong-1”, my country’s communications department Eagerly hoping that its own experimental communication satellites could be launched as soon as possible to change my country's backward communication technology, my country launched independent research on communication satellites and their launch vehicles as early as June 1970.

After June 1975, the country established a satellite communications project leading group, and established a technical coordination group under the leading group to be responsible for the overall technical coordination of the entire project. After the overall program design and overall coordination in 1976, it was established. In early 1977, after the planned prototypes of each satellite subsystem were developed, relevant information was provided to the International Telecommunications Union. On March 8 of the same year, the ITU officially announced China to the world. Satellite communication project plan, and Japan, Indonesia and other countries have successively coordinated with our country. In September 1977, the project was listed as one of the three key tasks on the aerospace front. The development of satellites began to take off. After years of hard work and selfless fighting by the vast number of scientific and technological personnel, by 1983, the development of experimental communication satellites was coming to an end.

On March 28, 1984, my country independently developed the satellite. The first test communication satellite was transported to the launch site. On the evening of April 8, darkness began to cover the earth, and the silver-white launch vehicle was slowly rising from the launch pad and flying towards the sky at 19:40. The third stage of the launch vehicle entered orbit accurately. After the satellite separated from the launch vehicle, the satellite rotated to 37 rpm according to the predetermined procedure. The satellite flew well in the large elliptical transfer orbit at 8:47 on April 10. The command ordered the satellite's apogee engine to ignite, and the satellite entered a quasi-stationary orbit at 18:27:57 on April 16. The satellite successfully positioned itself above the equator at 125 degrees east longitude. From then on, a Chinese satellite was added to the vast sky. A new satellite was developed, namely the "Dongfanghong-2" communication satellite. The satellite has a diameter of 2.1 meters, a total height of 3.1 meters, and a weight of 461 kilograms. The satellite is equipped with 2 transponders and uses the C-band to carry out telephone, television and radio services. . Since then, the development and application of my country's communication and broadcast satellites have entered a new stage of development.

Our country successfully launched five geostationary orbit communication and broadcast satellites in 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1990. Several years of operation have proven that the satellite performance meets the design requirements. Starting in 1986, using its own developed communication satellites, the first batch of satellite communications were opened in Beijing, Lhasa, Urumqi, Hohhot, Guangzhou and other cities. Later, it provided services for multiple programs of CCTV and China People's Broadcasting Station, TV education, and some local TV programs in Yunnan, Guizhou, Xinjiang and other provinces, greatly improving!

The national TV coverage rate . In addition, it has also opened external broadcasts using communication satellites as relay stations, and provided communication means such as numbers, pictures, text faxes, and data report transmissions for postal and telecommunications, water conservancy, finance and other departments, making it truly a "tool" to improve the efficiency of national economic construction. Multiplier".

It is worth mentioning that, theoretically, although there are as many as 120 satellite orbit positions in the geosynchronous orbit, as far as a certain country is concerned, the number of truly available positions is very small. limited. The positions that our country plans to occupy and has already occupied are only a few near 100 degrees east longitude. Among them, my country and Japan have had disputes over the orbital position of 110.5 degrees east longitude, although this position has long been used by my country's "Dongfanghong-2A" satellite. In addition, experts believe that the 125-degree position once occupied by my country's first experimental communication satellite is particularly important to our country, because the beam of the satellite fixed at this position covers the entire territory of our country, especially the developed southeastern coastal areas of our country. , and can receive very good signals. However, according to the relevant regulations of the International Telecommunication Union, my country's right to use the 125 degrees east longitude position will expire in November 1997 due to the imminent end of life of my country's first experimental satellite. Before that, if my country does not launch a new communication satellite To occupy this position will lead to two very unfavorable outcomes: either spending huge amounts of foreign exchange to purchase or rent a non-domestic satellite to occupy this position; or handing it over and watching other countries seize this position. At this critical moment when this invisible radio war is becoming increasingly fierce, my country's "Dongfanghong-3" domestic communications, radio and television transmission satellite, which was developed after 10 years of painstaking efforts, was carried on May 12, 1997 by the "Long March-3A" The Red Arrow was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and accurately positioned over the equator at 125 degrees east longitude, making great contributions to the development of my country's communications industry.

The "Dongfanghong-3" satellite is equipped with 24 C-band transponders. Among them, 6 medium-power transponders are used for television transmission, and 18 low-power transponders are used for telephone, telegraph, fax, data transmission and other communication services. It can continuously transmit 6 channels of color TV programs and 8100 channels of telephone calls to the whole country at the same time. It has a lifespan of 8 years and can meet the requirements of receiving and transmitting television and radio broadcasts and communications throughout the country around the year 2000. The satellite has a box-shaped star structure and is composed of seven subsystems including structure, power supply, thermal control, measurement and control, attitude and orbit control, propulsion and communication. The solar array is a directional sail plate structure with a maximum wing span of 18.1 meters and a maximum height of 5.71 meters. The entire star adopts a relatively advanced modular overall configuration plan. Therefore, the successful development of "Dongfanghong 3" marks the rapid development of my country's communications satellite technology and created good conditions for my country to enter the highly competitive communications satellite market.

Weather satellite

Understanding and mastering the weather is one of the important conditions for human survival. It is closely related to the production, transportation and daily life of human society, and is becoming increasingly important. Our country has a vast territory, and the weather in various places varies greatly. Due to inconvenient transportation, in the past, we mainly relied on a limited number of ground meteorological observation stations built in various places to measure the local six meteorological elements such as wind speed, temperature, air pressure, rainfall, sunshine and temperature. These data are then centralized to the meteorological center (bureau) using wired and wireless communication means for comprehensive analysis and forecasting. However, due to the influence of oceans, deserts, plateaus, mountains, and islands, it is impossible to observe weather conditions in a large territory. The data collected at the meteorological center each time is limited, and the means of collecting, analyzing, and processing data are relatively backward, making it difficult to Timely and accurate forecasts of the coming typhoons, heavy rains, cold snaps and high temperatures to all parts of the country often result in undue losses of life and property due to inadequate prevention measures.

Since the United States launched the world's first meteorological satellite on April 1, 1960, the satellite has been able to get a bird's-eye view of the world from a commanding position, and can obtain cloud image data covering an area of ??nearly 100 million square kilometers every half an hour. , not only can measure and provide quantitative remote sensing meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, etc. over a large area around the clock, but this kind of observation is not limited by natural conditions, geographical environment, national boundaries, time and space. After the advantages of meteorological satellites that cannot be matched by conventional meteorological observation methods were revealed, the call of our country's meteorological workers to develop our own meteorological satellites became increasingly louder. It received strong support from the Party Central Committee and was officially included in the national plan.

The first meteorological satellite developed by our country is a polar-orbiting meteorological satellite, named "Fengyun-1". The main mission is to obtain global meteorological data and send meteorological information to meteorological satellite ground stations around the world. At the same time, marine data are also obtained to serve the marine department. The body of the "Fengyun-1" satellite is a hexahedron measuring 1.4 meters by 1.4 meters by 1.2 meters. Six solar cell sail panels are symmetrically installed on the outside of the star. When the sail panels are deployed, the total length of the satellite is 8.6 meters.

The satellite operates in a sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 901 kilometers, an inclination of 99 degrees, and a period of 102 minutes, orbiting the earth 14 times a day. One of the notable features of the satellite structure is the use of a long-life three-axis attitude control system, which enables the two visible and infrared scanning radiometers on the satellite (with a scanning width of up to 3,000 kilometers) to always be aligned with the Earth, with high pointing accuracy. Less than 1.0 degrees, the subsatellite point resolution reaches 1.1 kilometers. On September 7, 1988, my country used the "Long March 4" carrier rocket to successfully launch the "Fengyun-1" into the predetermined orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi. Judging from the meteorological information sent back, experts believe that the image is clear, the texture is clear, the layers are rich, and it is timely and accurate.

Following the successful launch of the first experimental meteorological satellite, on September 3, 1990, my country successfully launched another meteorological satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center using the "Long March 4" rocket. Because the structure, orbit and functions of this satellite are basically similar to the first satellite, it is called the "Fengyun-1B" meteorological satellite. When the satellite flew over our country, the Urumqi Meteorological Satellite Ground Station took the lead and transmitted to Beijing the first satellite cloud image data reflecting the Asia of the former Soviet Union. People were excited to see from the TV weather forecast program not only visible light cloud images, but also new With the addition of infrared cloud images, clouds, lakes, rivers and mountains are clearly identifiable, completely comparable to satellite cloud images in advanced countries.

Following "Fengyun-1", my country began the development of the first geostationary orbit meteorological satellite "Fengyun-2" in 1987. As a new type of meteorological satellite, its structure and performance are quite different from "Fengyun-1". Its shape is a cylinder with a diameter of 2.1 meters and a height of 1.6 meters. It has nearly 2,000 solar cells pasted on the surface and has a service life of about 3 years. Since the satellite is equipped with multi-channel scanning radiometer, S-band data transmission and cloud map transponders in two bands, the UHF band data collection and weather map broadcast transponder indicators reach 100 domestic channels and 33 international channels; equivalent to all Radiation power is divided into three conditions: original main image, expanded cloud image and weather image. The functions are relatively complete and a series of engineering problems need to be solved.

In early 1994, after the satellite failed during testing, the unit responsible for the task conducted quality research on many aspects of the satellite, and through close cooperation with all relevant units, vigorously coordinated and strictly controlled The quality control has finally given this new star, which has been the result of 10 years of hard work by all members of my country’s aerospace front, a reliable quality guarantee.

On June 10, 1997, my country used the "Long March 3" carrier rocket to successfully send the "Fengyun 2" into the geostationary transfer orbit from the Xichang Launch Center. The satellite was finally launched on June 17 It is located at 105 degrees east longitude, 36,000 kilometers above the Earth's equator. Since "Fengyun 2" has a wider field of view, stronger functions and wider uses than "Fengyun 1", after it is put into operation, it will provide users with expanded digital images, weather map faxes and various processed meteorological data products and will play an important role in natural disaster monitoring and climate change research. After our country launched two sun-synchronous orbit meteorological satellites in 1988 and 1990, it successfully launched a geostationary orbit meteorological satellite into a predetermined orbit in 1997, and has sent back clear cloud images, which can continuously monitor weather changes. This marks that my country's meteorological satellite development and launch has entered the international advanced level. Since then, my country's meteorological satellite industry and the application capabilities of satellite resources have begun to enter a new stage of development.

Contracting international commercial satellites

Under the impact of the tide of reform and opening up, the decision-makers responsible for the development of my country’s aerospace technology began to consider how China’s aerospace industry could go abroad and enter the international market in 1984. problem.

In May 1985, my country took the opportunity to participate in the International Space Business Conference in Geneva and formed a four-member delegation to attend the conference. When the head of the delegation made a report on "The Possibility of China Providing Launch Services to the World" to representatives of the world's aerospace community at the meeting, people's faces were suddenly filled with expressions of surprise, followed by a commotion and mutual exchanges in the venue. Whispering discussions. The next day, a French newspaper published a message with a question mark and an exclamation point. The headline was: "China's fledgling aerospace technology will participate in international competition!?"

This is China's aerospace preparations to go global. The first tentative balloon released. In order to enable more international manufacturers to understand China's aerospace technology level, in June of the same year, China participated in the International Aerospace Technology Exhibition held in Paris. Due to careful preparation, the China Aerospace Technology Exhibition showed its style this time and had an unexpected sensational effect. Then, on October 26, 1985, our country, in the name of the Ministry of Aerospace, officially announced to the world: "China's launch vehicle will be put on the international market. It will undertake foreign satellite launch business." Since then, China's aerospace industry has opened a door that had been closed for decades. , decided to occupy a place in the world aerospace market.

Perhaps God was deliberately trying to be nice. Just three months after my country announced to the world that it would enter the international market, the U.S. space shuttle "Challenger" exploded and crashed. Soon, the U.S. In order to fill the gap in launch vehicles left by the shutdown of the space shuttle, the "Hercules" and "Delta" launch vehicles that were developed in a hurry also crashed one after another.

The European Space Agency's Ariane launch vehicle also failed to launch. At this time, the impatient major Western satellite companies began to turn their attention to China, thus creating an unprecedented and rare opportunity for our country to enter the world satellite launch market.

In January 1986, China formally signed an agreement with the Swedish National Space Corporation to launch a postal satellite for the company using China's "Long March 2C" rocket. This is the earliest official agreement to launch satellites that our country has contacted and signed with a foreign country.

In August and September of 1987, our country successfully launched and recovered two scientific exploration and technology test satellites. The satellite launched in August was equipped with two microgravity experimental devices of the French company Matra; this was the first time that my country has used aerospace technology to provide services to foreign users, and became a sign that China has officially entered the international aerospace market.

In September 1988, Xichang Satellite Launch Center was officially opened to the outside world. Since then, the mystery of this deep mountain canyon has been unveiled, and there has been an endless stream of tourists and visitors, as well as customers approaching satellite launch missions. On April 7, 1990, my country used the "Long March 2" carrier rocket to launch the "Asia 1" satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, contracted by the China Great Wall Industrial Corporation, and was fixed over the equator at 105.5 degrees east longitude. This satellite manufactured in the United States was the most widely used and technically mature small and medium-sized satellite of its type in the world at that time, with a working life of 9.5 years. The successful launch of the "Asia 1" satellite has provided my country with experience in launching international commercial satellites, and also increased our confidence in entering the international market.

In order to fulfill the formal contract between China and the American Houston Company on November 1, 1988, to use China's "Long March 2E" to launch two "HS-601" satellites (referred to as Ausat) for Australia's use , On August 14, 1992, my country successfully launched the heavy-duty "Ausset BI" communication satellite at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using its own high-thrust rocket. When the shiny milky-white space dragon "Chang Erbian", decorated with the national flags of the United States, Australia and China, slowly rose from the launch pad at 14:00 and a little after 7:00 in the morning, and soared straight into the nine-layer sky, for this purpose Our country's tireless aerospace warriors were relieved, elated, and congratulated each other. On August 28, 1994, with the attention of the whole world, my country used the "Long March 2E" to launch the "Ausset B3" communication satellite developed for Australia by the American Hughes Company into space in one fell swoop. The multiple successful launches of "Austar" indicate that our country has the ability to launch heavy-duty satellites, which is undoubtedly a huge driving force for our country to undertake international commercial satellites.

In the 10 years from April 1990 to June 1997, our country undertook the launch missions of 10 international commercial satellites. They are Sweden's "Fliako" scientific experimental satellite, Asia Satellite Communications Co., Ltd.'s "Asia 1" and "Asia 2" communication satellites, Asia Pacific Communications Satellite Co., Ltd.'s "Asia Pacific 1" and "Asia Pacific 1". A" communications satellite, Pakistan's "Badar 1" scientific experiment satellite, Australia's "Ausset BI", "Ausset BZ", "Ausset B3" communication satellites and the United States' "Acostar 1" "Communication satellite. In order to enable our country's aerospace technology to gain a firm foothold in the world market and participate in world competition with high-quality, efficient and safe services. In recent years, our country has modernized the equipment and facilities of various satellite launch sites, making the real-time command of launches more modern, the data collection and processing capabilities have been significantly enhanced, and the command display has become more accurate and intuitive. Its comprehensive launch capabilities have become International first-class level. This fully shows that our country’s aerospace industry is moving towards the world step by step, and the fate of dominating the ups and downs in the fiercely competitive world satellite launch market is firmly in our own hands.

There are also 8 satellites in the Beidou system!