LM-2D Launches Zhangheng 1 Satellite

China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite or Zhangheng 1 was launched aboard a LM-2D launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 15:51 Beijing time on February 2. The satellite entered it s orbit successfully, marking that China has becomes one of the few countries having an in-orbit satellite for high-accuracy geophysical field observation.

The new satellite was developed for national civil space scientific research and tests. It is first Chinese satellite to observe the electromagnetic situation related to earthquake activities as well as the first one launched in the national geophysical field observation satellite program.

A High Energy Particle Detector(HEPD) provided by Italy is equipped on the satellite which will work jointly with a Chinese detector to complete high energy space particle detection.

Zhangheng 1 satellite

Chinese President XI Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella sent congratulatory letters for the successful launch. President XI noted in his letter that the major result of Sino-Italian cooperation on the electromagnetic satellite program is an important reflection of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership and will greatly improve the capability and level of the two countries in monitoring the electromagnetic environment of the Earth using space technology and play an significant role in earthquake warning and disaster prevention and mitigation, serving the economic and social progress of the two countries.China pays high attention to Sino-Italian relationship and is willing to make mutual efforts with the Italy to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership and for the benefit of the two countries and the people.President Mattarella also expressed that the successful launch of China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite is an important achievement in the cooperation between the two countries, demonstrating a solid partnership in scientific research. Italy is willing to promote more cooperative results in various fields with China.

Zhangheng 1 was developed by the China Spacesat Co., Ltd and the LM-2D launch vehicle was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

A LM-2D launch vehicle is lifting up, sending Zhangheng 1 satellite into orbit

Zhangheng 1 created several “firsts”in China’s satellite R&D. Its overall technical specifications have reached an internationally advanced level and in some areas are at world leading level.

The satellite obtained for the first time in China, low Earth orbit satellite high-accuracy electromagnetic pure control with on-orbit precise magnetic field detection. The satellite carries payloads such as a high-accuracy magnetometer and induction magnetometer, which are expected to enable China to obtain precious global geomagnetic data for the first time. The satellite also conducts ionospheric electron and ion in-situ detection with high accuracy in China for the first time.

The Zhangheng 1 satellite can revisit a place on Earth every 5 days. The observation area ranges from 65 degrees north latitude to 65 degrees south latitude with focus on the whole land mass of China, as well as areas 1000 km around the land as well as two main seismic belts of the globe, the Mediterranean-Himalayan Belt and the Circum-Pacific Belt.

The satellite has a lifetime of 5 years and features include multi-payload integration and high-accuracy calibration. It carries 8 payloads including magnetometers, a plasma analyzer and a high energy particle detector.

To fully use the launch capacity of the LM-2D launch vehicle, 6 small satellites from Uruguay, Denmark and China were piggybacked.

This was the 266th launch of LM series launch vehicle.