Tiankun-1 (also known as TK-1) is a Chinese experimental technology demonstration satellite developed, operated, and launched by

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation The China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC) is a Chinese state-owned enterprise that designs, develops and manufactures a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipmen ...

(CASIC). It was launched on March 2, 2017, and is designed in order to test its

satellite bus A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held. Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus- ...

, as well as small satellite operations.

Design

Tiankun-1 is a small satellite designed to test technologies meant for satellites of such sizes, as well as experiment with the operation of small satellites. With its small launch vehicles, China hopes to be able to get a share in the international small satellite launch market. Tiankun-1's mission is to test out its satellite bus and performance in orbit. It would also be used for testing remote sensing and telecommunications technologies, as well as test out minisatellite-based experiments and operations. It is the first spacecraft to be developed by the CASIC as part of its plans to expand its commercial space plans.

Launch

Tiankun-1 was launched on board a Kaituozhe-2 rocket, which is a then-new small launch vehicle. It launched from

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC; also known as Shuangchengzi Missile Test Center; Launch Complex B2; formally Northwest Comprehensive Missile Testing Facility (); Base 20; 63600 Unit) is a Chinese space vehicle launch facility ( spa ...

on March 2, 2017, at 07:53 CST (23:53 UTC) into a polar orbit. It was the Kaituozhe-2's first launch, and its first successful one. It was launched to a low Earth orbit with a perigee of , an apogee of and an inclination of 97.2°.

References

{{Orbital launches in 2017 2017 in spaceflight Spacecraft launched in 2017 Satellites in low Earth orbit Technology demonstration satellites Satellites of China