China successfully launched the fourth group of Yaogan-40 remote sensing satellites on September 24 at 16:46 Beijing time. The launch took place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. The satellites were developed by the Fifth Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and are intended for electromagnetic environment research.
The mission utilized the Long March 6A (CZ-6A) rocket, marking the 670th flight for the Long March family. This specific launch was the 27th for the CZ-6A model and the 8th in 2026. The two-stage vehicle features four solid-fuel boosters and uses a combination of kerosene and liquid oxygen as propellant.
The CZ-6A rocket measures 50 meters in length and generates a liftoff thrust of 7,200 kN. Its design includes an extended first stage with a diameter of 3.35 meters, matching the second stage. The launch vehicle is capable of delivering at least 6.5 tons of payload into a sun-synchronous orbit.
