At 0727 GMT on 30 April China launched the YAOGAN 34 optical remote sensing satellite into a sun-synchronous Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The mission was carried by a Long March 4C (CZ-4C) rocket and lifted-off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. It is believed that this flight is the first instance that a Long March 4C rocket has utilised a 4 metre fairing when launching from Jiuquan. This satellite is reportedly to used for a variety purposes, ranging from territorial survey, urban planning, land right confirmation, to crop yield estimation and disaster mitigation in support of the Belt and Road initiative.
