China launches new experimental communication satellites [Long March 3B/E Y97]

China has continued to ramp up its launch cadence with a Long March 3B/E carrying Smart SkyNet (智慧天网) 1A and 1B.

The Long March 3B/E Y97 vehicle during first-stage flight.

China has continued to ramp up its launch cadence for 2024 with a Long March 3B/E lifting off at 09:43 am China Standard Time, or 01:43 am Universal Coordinated Time, from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in the country's Sichuan province, on May 9th. The launch vehicle carried two satellites to a medium Earth orbit, Smart SkyNet (智慧天网) 1A and 1B.

The Smart SkyNet 1A and 1B satellites will operate in a 20,000-kilometer medium Earth orbit where they will perform technology verification and testing ahead of the launch of the operational Smart SkyNet (智慧天网) constellation. Smart SkyNet 1A has a 'multi-beam high-speed' microwave link and a two-way laser link, as well as an onboard digital processing and forwarding platform. Smart SkyNet 1B also has a laser link that it will use for testing with the 1A satellite.

Once operational, the two satellites will perform inter-satellite and space-to-ground tests. These two satellites are expected to be part of a technology demonstration mission that will lay the basis for a group of eight satellites to be launched in the coming years.

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