Xihe (CHASE)

Mission

Xihe (CHASE)

• Type: Heliophysics
• Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
• Launch Cost: $30,000,000

Xihe, also known as the Chinese Hα Solar Explorer (CHASE), is designed to test a newly developed satellite platform and conduct solar observations. The scientific payload of the satellite is an Hα imaging spectrograph (HIS), which can, for the first time, acquire full-disk spectroscopic solar observations in the Hα waveband. It will complement the observations by on-orbit solar spacecraft (such as SDO, IRIS, STEREO and PSP), as well as future solar missions of the Solar Orbiter and the Chinese Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S).
Mission is named Xihe after a solar deity from Chinese mythology.

Location

Launch Complex 9

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Launch Complex 9 has witnessed the launch of 76 rockets, including 76 orbital launch attempts. While Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China, has been the site for 141 rocket launches.

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center is a People's Republic of China space and defense launch facility. It is situated in Kelan County, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province and is the second of four launch sites having been founded in March 1966 and coming into full operation in 1968.

Rocket

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2D

The Long March 2D, also known as the Chang Zheng 2D, CZ-2D and LM-2D, is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket. It is a 2-stage carrier rocket mainly used for launching LEO and SSO satellites.

Learn more about the Long March 2D

Agency

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.