Gansu (China): China has successfully launched its first commercial mission rocket 'Kuaizhou-1A' on Monday.


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KZ-1A rocket sent three satellites, JL-1, two CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1, into the space from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu at around 12.11 p.m. (Beijing Time), as per Xinhua news agency.


The KZ-1A was developed from the Kuaizhou-1 rocket with improvements in adaptability.


It is a low-cost solid-fuelled carrier rocket with high reliability and short preparation period and was designed to launch low-orbit satellites weighing under 300 kg.


The JL-1 is a multifunctional remote-sensing satellite providing high-definition video images which is expected to be used for land resource and forestry surveying, environmental protection, transport and disaster prevention and relief purposes.


The XY-S1 and Caton-1 are experimental satellites to test technologies of low-orbit narrow-band communication and VHF Data Exchange System respectively.


A rocket technology company under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation was responsible for the launch mission.


(With IANS inputs)