Kuafu-1 launches into China’s first mission to study the sun

By Asia Markets On Oct 9, 2022

The Chinese Government has hailed the launch of a 859 kilogram satellite, known as Kuafu-1, a success.

Kuafu-1 was launched on Sunday October 9 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center by a Long March-2D rocket.

According to the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the satellite is embarking on a four year-minimum solar probe that is hoped to improve China’s ability to forecast weather.

“After four to six months of testing, the satellite will start normal operation 720 kilometers away from the Earth to study the causality between the solar magnetic field and two major eruptive phenomena, namely solar flares and coronal mass ejections, thus providing data support for space weather forecasting,” said Xinhua state media.

“Today’s launch will provide us the best window period for studying the sun,” Gan Weiqun, the chief scientist of the mission, told CGTN.

“A four-year minimus life span of the probe can cover peak years; we can observe a lot of eruptions.”