<p>The Long March II-C rocket experienced malfunction during the flight following its launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre yesterday in northwest Gansu Province, state run Xinhua reported today.<br /><br />The specific cause of the failure of the launch programme is being analysed, it said in a brief report without elaborating on the fate of the satellite which was reportedly meant for early warning defence systems.<br /><br />International experts have speculated that China was due to use the satellite as part of an operational early warning defence system.<br /><br />First time<br /><br />Apparently this is the first time the Long March II-C rocket, regarded as the trusted war horse of Chinese space programme has failed after 35 successful launches and only second time that China had abort a satellite since 1996 after it developed its space applications modelled on the Russian technology.<br /><br />China has expanded its space programme at a rapid pace in the recent months by firing a number of satellites in the recent months including that of a communication satellite for its close ally Pakistan on August 12. PAKSAT-1R which will provide a range of services, including broadband Internet, telecommunication and broadcasting was built and financed by China.<br /><br />Later, it successfully launched a maritime satellite at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on August 16.<br /><br />The satellite was meant for the supervision and survey of the maritime environment, an important measure for prevention and reduction of maritime disasters, the official media said.<br /><br />Besides emerging as world’s third nation to put man in space after the United States of America and Russia, China has last year sent lunar probe, Chang’e-II as a prelude to its plans to send a rover to explore moon’s surface followed by a manned lunar mission.<br /></p>
<p>The Long March II-C rocket experienced malfunction during the flight following its launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre yesterday in northwest Gansu Province, state run Xinhua reported today.<br /><br />The specific cause of the failure of the launch programme is being analysed, it said in a brief report without elaborating on the fate of the satellite which was reportedly meant for early warning defence systems.<br /><br />International experts have speculated that China was due to use the satellite as part of an operational early warning defence system.<br /><br />First time<br /><br />Apparently this is the first time the Long March II-C rocket, regarded as the trusted war horse of Chinese space programme has failed after 35 successful launches and only second time that China had abort a satellite since 1996 after it developed its space applications modelled on the Russian technology.<br /><br />China has expanded its space programme at a rapid pace in the recent months by firing a number of satellites in the recent months including that of a communication satellite for its close ally Pakistan on August 12. PAKSAT-1R which will provide a range of services, including broadband Internet, telecommunication and broadcasting was built and financed by China.<br /><br />Later, it successfully launched a maritime satellite at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on August 16.<br /><br />The satellite was meant for the supervision and survey of the maritime environment, an important measure for prevention and reduction of maritime disasters, the official media said.<br /><br />Besides emerging as world’s third nation to put man in space after the United States of America and Russia, China has last year sent lunar probe, Chang’e-II as a prelude to its plans to send a rover to explore moon’s surface followed by a manned lunar mission.<br /></p>