China Long March 2D Rocket Launches Space Science Satellites
A Long March-2D carrier rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 7:41pm China Standard Time on November 11, 2026, successfully placing the Tanluozhe-1 scientific satellite into orbit along with three sub-satellites.
Belonging to the National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the main launched spacecraft is known as Tanluozhe-1, alternatively simply called ‘Pathfinder’. It was built by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The main satellite is to be known as Tanluozhe-1A, with the smaller ones to be designated B, C, and D.
Once confirmed to be healthy in a 600-kilometer dawn-dusk orbit, Tanluozhe-1A will perform verifications of its Magnetic and Helioseismic Imager2, designed by the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, while B, C, and D will fly in formation to prove the Very Large Area Gamma-ray Space Telescope Pathfinder3, made by Purple Mountain Observatory, the High-Resolution Atmospheric Boundary Layer Lidar4, from the University of Science and Technology of China as well as Langmuir Probes5 and Space Weather Effects Monitors6 from the National Space Science Center. The spacecraft and its sub-satellites are expected to operate for two years.
The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) is a Chinese spaceport located between Ejin, Alxa, Inner Mongolia and Hangtian Town, Jinta County, Jiuquan, Gansu Province. It is part of the Dongfeng Aerospace City.
Today’s launch was the 107th mission for the Long March 2D, the 283rd Long March vehicle from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the 677th launch of the Long March launch vehicle series. This was also the 81st launch from China in 2026.
Article Credit: Jack C.
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