China has successfully launched the second Chang Zheng 7A (CZ-7A) rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on Hainan Island, thus recovering from the first failed launch that took place almost one year ago. Carrying the mysterious Shiyan 9/Xinjishu Yanzheng-6-02 satellite, liftoff took place at 17:51 UTC on 11 March from the LC-201 launch complex.
The Chang Zheng 7A represents a new step in replacing the older families of hypergolic fuelled launchers that have been the workhorse of the Chinese space program since its inception in the 1960s.