Dong Fang Hong 1

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

13:35:45

Friday April 24, 1970

Mission Details

Launch Notes

China's first orbital launch. China becomes the 5th space power. First flight of Long March 1 with a third stage. China becomes the third country to launch a satellite into orbit on the first try, after the USSR and France.

Dong Fang Hong 1

Wiki

DFH 1 (Dong Fang Hong 1) was the first Chinese satellite. This was the first satellite launched by China on its own booster, making China the fifth nation to put a spacecraft into orbit using its own rocket. The satellite was developed under the direction of Tsien Hsue-Shen, dean of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The experimental satellite was a nearly spherically shaped symmetrical 72-faced polyhedron with a 1-meter diameter. It was battery-powered and carried a radio transmitter. The primary mission was to broadcast the song "Dong Fang Hong", paying tribute to Chairman Mao, and to announce the time. A total of five identical satellites were built to have backups in case of launch failures. The first satellite launched successfully.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

173 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Long March 1

Active 1970 to 1971

Ministry of Aerospace Industry logo

Agency

MASI

Rocket

Height: 30.45m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 300 kg

GTO: 0 kg

Liftoff Thrust

1,020 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 1.5m

Height: 4.67m

Stages

3

Launch Site

Site 5020 (LA-2A)

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China

Fastest Turnaround

312 days 22 hours

Stats

Long March 1


1st

Mission

1st

Mission of 1970

1970


36th

Orbital launch attempt