China has sent three satellites into space via the rocket Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A), marking the country's first commercial rocket mission.
According to China.org, the rocket was launched into space on Monday, carrying two CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1 and the satellite JL-1.
The Kuaizhou 1A booster blasted off at around 12:11 p.m. on (Beijing time) on Monday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.
The KZ-1A is a solid-fuelled carrier that was developed from the Kuaizhou-1 rocket. It was made with short preparation period as a low-cost launch option for delivering up to 300kg into low-orbit satellites, according to China.org.
The JL-1 satellite yields high-definition video images that can be used for forestry surveying, transport and disaster prevention, environmental protection and land resource and relief operations.
Meanwhile, the Caton-1 and XY-S1 are experimental satellites that can test VHF Data Exchange System and low-orbit narrow-band communication technologies.
The KZ-1A rocket reached a "near-circular polar orbit ranging between 328 miles and 337 miles in altitude, with an inclination of 97.5 degrees," wrote The Spaceflight Now, citing data from a U.S. military tracker.
Commercial launches of the KZ-1A will now be under Expace, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. (CASIC).
The group's first contract amounting to $14.5 million was inked last year. The success of this mission is said to pave the way for more cost-efficient and faster launch services for local and foreign clients.
"Foreign clients told us that they are interested in Kuaizhou rockets' strong capabilities and competitive prices," said Zhang Di, vice president of the CASIC Fourth Academy and chairman of Expace, in a China Daily report.
"The Kuaizhou models are specifically designed for launches of small satellites. They are capable of lifting four to six satellites to multiple orbits in a single flight and require a short period of time for pre-launch preparations, and fewer than 10 operators."