Yaogan 32

Yaogan is a series of Earth remote sensing satellites for China.

State media report the satellites are scientific in nature and are used for land survey, agriculture monitoring, and disaster response.

Western nations believe the Yaogan sats are SIGINT, or Signals Intelligence, satellites to monitor shipping and radio communications for the military.

All Yaogan satellites have so far been launched in groups of three into 600 km orbits inclined 35 degrees to the equator.

Chang Zheng 2C

The Chang Zheng 2C is a two-stage rocket built by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

It uses two highly toxic propellants, nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine. Exposure to these fuels as the first stage falls back to Earth near (and sometimes on) populated and un-evacuated villages can lead to severe health issues for residents.

The rocket flew for the first time on September 9th, 1982 and can launch from three Chinese facilities: The Jiuquan, Taiyuan, and Xichang Satellite Launch Centers.

It can take up to 3,850 kg to low Earth orbit and 1,400 kg to a more specialized Sun-synchronous orbit.

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.