China launches experimental spacecraft, satellite

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Saturday launched the Kuaizhou-11 Y8 carrier rocket carrying a space experimental spacecraft and a satellite, state media reported.

The rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China and successfully sent its payloads into the planned orbit, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Spacecraft DEAR-5 is a cargo-capable space platform developed by Beijing-based firm AZSPACE, with a 300-kilogram (661 pounds) payload capacity and at least one-year operational life. It can also send experimental data to earth, the news agency reported.

It said the mission carries 34 experiments from universities, research institutes, and companies, adding that these experiments cover areas such as microgravity research, space technology, space materials science and new technology verification in space.

The Xiwang-5 Phase-2 satellite was also sent into space.

This mission marked the fourth flight of the Kuaizhou-11 rocket.