At 0227 GMT, 23 August 2020 China launched the Gaofen 9-5 satellite to LEO (Low Earth Orbit) along with two small co-payloads. The mission utilised the Long March 2D (CZ-2D) rocket and lifted-off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Northern China. This marks the second launch for the CHEOS (China High-definition Earth Observation System) programme this month – Gaofen 9-4 was launched on 6 August.
The Long March 2D rocket lifts-off from Jiuquan carrying its three payloads. Courtesy of Xinhua
Alongside the Gaofen 9-5 unit were two co-payloads. The first was Tiantuo-5, part of a series of nanosatellites testing data collection technologies for IoT purposes. The second was Duo Gongneng Shiyan Weixing, described as an “multifunctional test satellite”. Many details remain uncertain about this payload however, its mission is described as ” to test and verify technologies such as communication, navigation and remote sensing in orbit”. Duo Gongneng Shiyan Weixing was reportedly built by the unfamiliar Academy of Military Sciences.
