China performed its first launch of 2022 with a categorized mission, the Shiyan 13 test satellite.The Long March 2D rocket carrying Shiyan 13 introduced from the China National Space Administrations (CNSA) northern Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Tuesday (Jan. 17) at 10:35 a.m. regional time (0235 GMT, or 9:35 p.m. EST on Jan. 16) The satellite was sent effectively into its “predetermined orbit,” CNSA stated in a statement machine-translated from Chinese. The statement included that provided low temperatures of minus 37 degrees Celsius (minus 35 Fahrenheit) at the launch website, the launch group added “product sealing steps” to the rocket to guarantee a safe launch.Related: The most current news about Chinas space programA Chinese Long March 2D rocket bring Shiyan 13 takes off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. (Image credit: CCTV)” The Experiment No. 13 satellite is mainly used to perform space environment detection and associated innovation experiments,” CNSA added of the mission, stating it plans “more than 40 space launch objectives” for 2022. China performed a record-breaking 55 launches in 2021. Tracking information later showed that Shiyan-13 is in a near-polar orbit of 99 degrees, ranging between 221 miles and 805 miles (357 km and 1,297 km) above Earth, SpaceNews reported.” Shiyan are comprehended to be a series of test satellites, which initially released in 2004,” SpaceNews added. “China presently has more than 10 Shiyan satellites in sun-synchronous and geosynchronous orbits.” No other info about Shiyan 13s usage or payload has actually been supplied in Chinese state media, although the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the main contractor for Chinas space program, did note that the rocket utilized a brand-new 6-foot (2 meters) satellite separation gadget due to distinct requirements of the mission.Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook..
