Kuaizhou-1A Rocket Launches Tianxing-1 Satellite

The Kuaizhou-1A rocket made a successful return to flight on Wednesday, launching the Tianxing-1 test satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Chinese media said satellite’s purpose is to research the space environment. Officials released no other details about the spacecraft, which was built by the China Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Mechanics.

Kuaizhou-1A failed during its previous launch in December, destroying the GeeSAT-1A and 1B navigation augmentation system satellite. The solid-fuel rocket, which can launch 200 kg into a Sun-synchronous orbit, has a record of 13 successes and two failures.