Long March 3C rocket launches Tianlian-1 satellite
{{date|April 25, 2008}}
[[Image:CZ-3C.svg|thumb|right|80px|The Long March 3C rocket]]
At 15:35 [[w:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] this afternoon (23:35 local time), the [[China|Chinese]] [[w:Long March rocket|Long March 3C]] (CZ-3C) carrier rocket lifted off on its maiden flight, from launch pad 2 at the [[w:Xichang Satellite Launch Center|Xichang Satellite Launch Centre]]. It placed the [[w:Tianlian-1|Tianlian-1]] satellite into a [[w:geosynchronous transfer orbit|geosynchronous transfer orbit]]. Tianlian-1, also known as Tian Lian 1 and TL-1, a spacecraft tracking and data relay [[w:communications satellite|communications satellite]], similar in function to the [[United States|American]] [[w:Tracking and Data Relay Satellite|Tracking and Data Relay Satellite]]s (TDRS), will be used to track and communicate with manned [[w:Shenzhou spacecraft|Shenzhou spacecraft]] in [[w:low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit]]. It will be able to cover around half of the spacecraft's trajectory, compared to the 12 percent which can be covered by China's fleet of tracking ships and ground stations. The next Shenzhou mission, [[w:Shenzhou 7|Shenzhou 7]], is currently scheduled for launch in October. Tianlian-1 is based on the [[w:DFH-3|DFH-3]] satellite bus.

This is the 19<sup>th</sup> orbital launch of [[w:2008 in spaceflight|2008]], and the first this year to be conducted by the People's Republic of China. It is currently believed that China intend to conduct one more launch before the end of April, however due to secrecy surrounding China's space programme, it is difficult to be certain of this.

The Long March 3C is a new version of the [[w:Long March 3|Long March 3]] rocket, which serves as an intermediate between the Long March 3A, and the Long March 3B. It is 55 metres tall, and can place a 3,700 kilogram payload into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/26/content_8052455.htm|title=China blasts off first data relay satellite|author=Yan Liang|pub=Xinhua|date=2008-04-25}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/china-blasts-off-first-data-relay-satellite_10042091.html|title=China blasts off first data relay satellite|author=|pub=The Indian|date=2008-04-25}}

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:China]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Space]]
The Long March 3C rocket
At 15:35 UTC this afternoon (23:35 local time), the Chinese Long March 3C (CZ-3C) carrier rocket lifted off on its maiden flight, from launch pad 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. It placed the Tianlian-1 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Tianlian-1, also known as Tian Lian 1 and TL-1, a spacecraft tracking and data relay communications satellite, similar in function to the American Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), will be used to track and communicate with manned Shenzhou spacecraft in low Earth orbit. It will be able to cover around half of the spacecraft's trajectory, compared to the 12 percent which can be covered by China's fleet of tracking ships and ground stations. The next Shenzhou mission, Shenzhou 7, is currently scheduled for launch in October. Tianlian-1 is based on the DFH-3 satellite bus.

This is the 19th orbital launch of 2008, and the first this year to be conducted by the People's Republic of China. It is currently believed that China intend to conduct one more launch before the end of April, however due to secrecy surrounding China's space programme, it is difficult to be certain of this.

The Long March 3C is a new version of the Long March 3 rocket, which serves as an intermediate between the Long March 3A, and the Long March 3B. It is 55 metres tall, and can place a 3,700 kilogram payload into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
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