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July 16, 2013
Long March 2C rocket launch
A Long March 2C rocket carrying experimental orbiter SJ-11-05 was launched from Jiuquan Launch Center on july 15, 2013.
After the successful completion of the Shenzhou-10 mission to the Tangong-1 orbital module, China embarked for the second half of 2013 with the successful launch of another mysterious satellite on the Shijian-11 series. The launch of Shijian 11-05 took place at 09:27UTC on Monday using a Long March 2C launch vehicle from the 603 launch pad of the LC43 launch complex from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Long March 2C rocket launch
According to the Chinese media, this mission involved an “experimental satellite” developed by the DongFangHong Satellite Company of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.
Experimental orbiter SJ-11-05
As with the previous Shijian-11 satellites, the true mission of Shijian 11-05 was not revealed by the Chinese authorities. However, some observers noted that the Shijian-11 series could be related with a constellation of operational early warning satellites.
Image above: The position of the 4 ballistic early-warning satellites in the space,to detect missiles coming from North America, Europe, Indian Ocean, West Pacific.
This launch was the 178th Chinese orbital launch, the 178th launch of the Chang Zheng launch vehicle family. It was also the 59th orbital launch from the Jiuquan Satellite launch Center and the fourth orbital launch from China this year.
Images, Text, Credits: CASC / CCTV / China News.
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