China has successfully launched three new remote sensing satellites on November 6, 2021 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. The centre is located in country's southwestern Sichuan province.

Key Points
• The satellites belong to the Yaogan-35 family.
• They were launched by a Long March-2D carrier rocket and entered the planned orbit successfully.
• The launch of these satellites marks the 396th mission for Long March series carrier rockets of China.

Background
Regarded as the main stay of China’s space programme since 1970, the country’s Long March-3B rocket had completed its 300th launch in March 2019 successfully. The rocket had put a new communication satellite into orbit. This rocket is regarded as the main stay of Chinese space programme since 1970.

About Long March carrier launches

The Long March carrier rocket series has been developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). This rocket series is responsible for about 96.4 per cent of all the launch missions in China.

While it took 37 years for the Long March rockets to complete the first 100 launches, the second 100 launches were completed in 7.5 years. What’s more the final launches 100 were accomplished in only about four years. The average number of launches per year increased from 2.7 to 13.3 and then to 23.5.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
Beijing headquartered CASC is the main contractor of Chinese space program. It manufactures aerospace equipment. The corporation has a number of subordinate entities which are involved in designing, developing and manufacturing a range of spacecraft, strategic & tactical missile systems, space launch vehicles, ground equipment and other aerospace products. This state-owned corporation was officially established in July 1999.