China Lofts New Satellite, Breaks US Rocket Launch Record

Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now

Date: 26 December 2011 Time: 10:46 AM ET

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A Chinese Long March 4B rocket lifts off from Taiyuan launching base in Shanxi province on Dec. 22, 2011 to launch a new Earth-mapping satellite. It was the 18th successful launch for China in 2011. CREDIT: Chinese Ministry of Defense View full size image

For the first time since the dawn of the space age, China's Long March rocket family eclipsed the annual flight rate of the U.S. fleet of space launchers Thursday with the successful deployment of a high-resolution mapping satellite.

A Long March 4B booster lifted off at 0326 GMT Thursday (10:26 p.m. EST Wednesday) from the Taiyuan launching base in Shanxi province, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.
MORE: http://www.space.com/14048-china-satellite-launch-breaks-rocket-record.html





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