China sent two satellites into planned orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province on the morning of December 10, with the purpose of detecting gravitational waves. The two satellites make up the Gravitational wave high-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) mission of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Two satellites are launched by a Long March-11 carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, December 10, 2020. Their purpose is the detection of gravitational waves. [IMAGE: XINHUA]

China sent two satellites into planned orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province on the morning of December 10, with the purpose of detecting gravitational waves.

The two satellites, which together compose the Gravitational wave high-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) mission, were launched by a Long March-11 carrier rocket at 4:14 am (Beijing Time), according to the center.

[IMAGE: INSTITUTE OF HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS (IHEP)]

This launch was the 355th mission of the Long March rocket series.

The GECAM satellites will be used to monitor high-energy celestial phenomena such as gravitational wave gamma-ray bursts, high-energy radiation of fast radio bursts, special gamma-ray bursts and magnetar bursts, and to study neutron stars, black holes and other compact objects and their merger processes.

In addition, they will also detect high-energy radiation phenomena in space, such as solar flares, Earth gamma flashes and Earth electron beams, providing observation data for scientists.

The GECAM project is being carried out by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Long March-11 rocket was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Source: Xinhua