Gaofen-9 are a series of civilian Earth Observation satellites from China designed to provide civilians and city planners with high-definition images of Earth.

While non-military in nature, the satellites are technically state-sponsored, as are most things in China, and are believed to be based on the military Yaogan 2 reconnaissance satellites.

The data collected by the Gaofen-9 fleet allows city planners, road builders, and the agricultural industry to see objects on Earth with resolutions of less than one meter (three feet).

The Gaofen-9 fleet operates in a polar orbit to ensure full-Earth coverage of observations.

(Render: Supercluster. Lead image: Xinhua)

The Long March 2D (CZ-2D) is a two-stage orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), part of the China National Space Administration (CNSA). It is part of the broader Long March rocket family, known for its reliability and versatility. The Long March 2D is primarily designed to launch satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) and Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), making it suitable for missions like Earth observation, scientific research, and communication satellite deployment.

Specs

Height: 41.1 meters (134.8 feet)

Diameter: 3.35 meters (11 feet)

Liftoff Mass: 232 metric tons

Stages: 2 stages

Thrust (at liftoff): ~2,961 kN (666,000 lbf) from four YF-21C engines

Engine types: YF-21C engines (Stage 1) and YF-24C engines (Stage 2, with a YF-22C main engine and YF-23C vernier engines for control)

First launched in 1992, the Long March 2D has become a reliable workhorse for China's space program. It uses hypergolic propellants—unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as fuel and nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) as an oxidizer—which allow for efficient, though toxic, combustion. The rocket can carry payloads of 3,500 kg to LEO or 1,300 kg to SSO at 700 km altitude.

South Launch Site (SLS) 2 is one of two launch pads in the southern launch region of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The pad is capable of launching five rocket types, including the Chang Zheng 2C, 2D, 4B, 4C, and 11 variants and has been in service since 2003.

Part of the larger Jiuquan launch complex, the area is also known as the Shuangchengzi Missile Test Center and is located in the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia region of Gansu Province.

The spaceport was founded in 1958 and has hosted more launches for China than any other space facility in the nation.