A LM-4C Launches 4 Satellites into Space Simultaneously

At 12:25 Beijing time on April 10, a LM-4C carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, launching 3 remote sensing satellites and a micro/nano technology testing satellite into their preset orbits. It was the 271st flight of the LM series launch vehicle.

The Yaogan 31-01 group includes 3 satellites. The three satellites and the micro/nano technology testing satellite were developed by the DFH Satellite Co., Ltd, aiming at electromagnetic environment detection and nano satellite technology testing and demonstration.

The LM-4C launch vehicle which carried out this mission was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), which is a conventional liquid three-stage launch vehicle.It was the second mission of LM-4C in 2018. It completed its first flight in 2018 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center just 10 days ago.

A LM-4C launch vehicle is putting 4 satellites into orbit

The rocket adopted a configuration with the three satellites installed in series and a small satellite as the secondary payload. In order to adapt to the mission requirement, the mission team conducted 19 technical upgrades. The satellites were installed in a bay, which consisted of a satellite fairing, an adapter module and a support module with envelope optimization, thus enabling a rational arrangement of several satellites within the bay. The optimized designs for the rocket separation procedures and coast time help to achieve the orderly separation of satellites from the rocket, precise orbit injection and safety in orbit flight.

In addition, the test and launch process period at the launch site was shortened to 19 days from 21 days,due to the improved working efficiency.