China launches eight satellites using Smart Dragon 3 rocket

On Tuesday morning, China launched a Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket from the coast of Haiyang in Shandong province, successfully deploying eight satellites into space. According to the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the satellites were placed into their designated orbital positions shortly after the rocket's launch at 10:31 am from a launch service ship. This marks the fourth sea-based launch for the Smart Dragon 3 model.

The Smart Dragon 3 is a solid-propellant rocket, standing 31 meters tall with a diameter of 2.65 meters. It has a lift-off weight of 140 metric tons, powered by a solid-propellant engine that holds 71 tons of propellant and produces a thrust of 200 tons. The rocket is capable of delivering multiple satellites, with a combined weight of 1.5 tons, to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers.

The Smart Dragon 3 made its first flight in December 2022 from the Yellow Sea, successfully placing 14 satellites into orbit. Subsequent missions occurred in December 2023 and early 2024, with launches from the South China Sea and off the coast of Yangjiang, respectively. By now, the rocket has completed four sea-based missions.

To date, China has conducted 13 sea-based rocket launches, utilizing four different types of rockets: Long March 11, Smart Dragon 3, Ceres 1, and Gravity 1.