Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-29-2019 01:21 PM
iSpace, also known as Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd., became the first Chinese private firm to achieve orbit with the launch of its Hyperbola-1 rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT) on July 25, 2019.
The test flight carried CAS-7B, an amateur radio satellite, and a technology verification payload for China Central Television, into a 300-kilometer-altitude orbit, with three more small payloads attached to the upper stage.
The Hyperbola-1, consisting of three solid stages with a liquid-propellant fourth stage, has a length of 20.8 meters and mass at takeoff of around 31 metric tons.
One of the small payloads was revealed as a toy car. From Andrew Jones on Twitter:
You'll love this. The payload fairing from the launch of Chinese firm iSpace's Hyperbola-1 separating to reveal a model car from launch sponsor Chang'an Motors.
posted 07-29-2019 01:21 PM
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