China confirms satellite launch after military rocket’s ‘dragon’s tail’ stirs online speculation
- Two rockets launched from mobile vehicle that could rapidly replace Chinese satellites in orbit if they are damaged or attacked
- Launch created striking zigzag shaped vapour that was visible 500km away in Beijing
China launched seven civilian satellites on Saturday using mobile launch vehicles normally used to fire military rockets, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
The first launch in the morning sent one remote sensing satellite into orbit, while six satellites – to be used for purposes such as communications and navigation – were sent into orbit in the evening.
The second launch from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre created a mysterious zigzag shaped “dragon cloud” that, thanks to clear skies over northern China, was visible from Beijing – 500km to the east, which stirred speculation on social media.
The satellites were launched using KZ-1As rockets, a lightweight solid fuel projectile developed by the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC), using technology initially for use by the military.
“The KZ uses last-generation military technologies and transferred them to civilian use,” said Beijing-based military commentator Zhou Chenming.
A report by Reference News described the rockets as having a “high delivery accuracy, short preparation time and low cost”.