China’s Long March 4B launches three satellites
China yesterday used its Long March 4B rocket to launch three satellites into orbit.
This was the first Long March 4 launch since May, when the third stage of a Long March 4C rocket failed. The main payload was a remote sensing satellite with both civilian and military applications. The second satellite was to provide ocean data and weather, with the third a cubesat testing new space communications and the use of a drag sail for de-orbiting.
The leaders in the 2019 launch race:
15 China
14 Russia
10 SpaceX
6 Europe (Arianespace)
The U.S. continues to lead China 19 to 15 in the national rankings.