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October 9, 2017
Long March 2D carrying VRSS-2 launch
China launched the second remote sensing satellite for Venezuela using a Long March-2D (Chang Zheng-2D) launch vehicle on Monday. This was the first use of the CZ-2 rocket after a mishap occurred in December 2016 with the first Gaojing mission. The failure caused major distruption to the Chinese launch schedule.
The launch of VRSS-2 took place at 04:13 UTC from the 603 Launch Platform of the LC43 Launch Complex of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Long March 2D launches VRSS-2
Also known by Antonio José de Sucre, the VRSS-2 (Venezuela Remote Sensing Satellite-2) is the second remote sensing satellite built by China to Venezuela after the VRSS-1 Francis Miranda (2012-055A) launched on September 29, 2012, using a Long March-2 launch vehicle from Jiuquan.
The satellite has a 1 m panchromatic and a 4 m multi-spectral imaging system. Additionally, it features 30 m SWIR and 60 m LWIR imagers. Launch mass of VRSS-2 is around 1,000 kg.
VRSS-2 satellite
The Chang Zheng-2D launch vehicle is a two-stage rocket developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. With storable propellants is mainly used to launch a variety of low earth orbit satellites.
For more information about China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), visit: http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/index.html
Images, Video, Text, Credits: CASC/InterSpace/Günter Space Page/Orbiter.ch Aerospace.
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