China launches two satellites for gravitational wave detection
Pub Date:20-12-10 08:39 Source:Xinhua
China sent two satellites for the detection of gravitational waves
into planned orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan
Province on Thursday morning.
The two satellites, which 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 a.m. (Beijing Time),
according to the center.
Thursday's 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 carried out by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Long March-11 rocket is developed by the China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation. Enditem