China successfully launches largest carrier rocket

China successfully launched the largest carrier rocket of the country, Long March-5, from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China’s Hainan Province. The rocket, also known as CZ-5, blasted off with more than 1,000 tonnes of thrust at 8.45 pm. The Chinese space authorities declared the mission a “complete success” just over half an hour after the lift-off when the Shijian-20 satellite it carried entered its designated orbit.

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It is the country’s third attempt to launch the rocket. The first attempt was made in 2016. However, during the first attempt, the rocket failed to reach the speed required for the early phase of the flight. The second attempt also failed when a turbopump that injected fuel into the combustion chamber malfunctioned and the main engine died minutes after take-off.