China sends three new satellites into space in first launch of 2023

China successfully sent three new satellites into orbit on Monday in its first launch of the new year.

The satellites, Shijian-23, Shiyan-22A and Shiyan-22B, were launched atop a Long March-7A carrier rocket at 6 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, and entered their planned orbits successfully.

The Shijian-23 satellite is mainly used for scientific experiments and technical verification, while the Shiyan-22A and Shiyan-22B satellites serve the in-orbit verification tests of new technologies, such as space environment monitoring.

The launch was the 459th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

(Xinhua)