China's first nano-satellite with primary and middle school students involved in the development and building process was launched into space Friday.
The satellite, named after China’s late Premier Zhou Enlai, was sent from its production base in Huai'an Youth Comprehensive Development Base in east China's Jiangsu Province to Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province Monday, where a Changzheng-11 solid fuel rocket put it into orbit Friday. Zhou Enlai held office from October 1949 until January 1976.
Twenty teenagers who participated in the development project accompanied the transport group to the launch center and witnessed the lift-off.
Zhang Xiang, chief designer of the satellite, said that the nano-satellite, weighing 2 kilograms, will run in sun-synchronous orbit. Equipped with a HD optical camera, it can capture space photos with the highest resolution among those shot by other Chinese satellites for scientific education purpose.
Zhang said that the students had taken their spare time to join the development and ground-based simulation performance of the satellite, and had learnt to assemble and practice voice data transfer and telecommunication applications.
The satellite project was approved in 2016. The administration office of Huai'an Youth Comprehensive Development Base is the main organizer of the project. It is aiming to become the largest and most advanced youth aerospace science museum in China.
"The satellite not only offers an opportunity for local teenagers to engage in such an aerospace project, but stimulates enthusiasm in space science among all students in the schools," said Wang Qiming, director of the administration office.
"It is so much fun to know the secrets of a scientific satellite. I am proud of being part of the development," said Lu Ke, a member of the young team.
The student from the Huai'an Zhou Enlai Red Army Middle School watched the whole launch process Friday.
"Watching our satellite lifting off will be so cool that I will probably be moved into tears," he said.
(Source:Jiangsu International Channel)
