On Aug. 21, a rocket developed and made in Wuhan was transported to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center where it will be launched next month. As it is the first rocket manufactured at the Wuhan National Aerospace Industry Base, it has been codenamed "Kuaizhou-Xinzhou" after its birthplace in Wuhan's Xinzhou District.

21日，武汉国家航天产业基地研发生产的“快舟·新洲”号火箭出征酒泉卫星发射中心，将于下个月在酒泉卫星发射中心择机发射。武汉国家航天产业基地首枚火箭命名为“快舟·新洲”号，以纪念在新洲区下线的“汉产”火箭。

▲ The "Kuaizhou-Xinzhou" rocket   Photo by Hu Dongdong

"Kuaizhou-Xinzhou," one of the first rockets produced at the Wuhan National Aerospace Industry Base, is 20 meters long and weighs about 30 tonnes. It will carry the Jilin-1 Gaofen-02F satellite into orbit. This satellite will mainly be used for mapping and topographical photography which will find applications in the areas of land use, geological disaster analysis and rescue, as well as the construction of transport infrastructure.

“快舟·新洲”号火箭是武汉国家航天产业基地生产的首批火箭之一。“快舟·新洲”号长20米，起飞质量约30吨。“快舟·新洲”号将搭载“吉林一号高分02F”卫星发射，这颗卫星主要用于地图、地貌的拍摄，在国土利用、地质灾害分析救援、交通建设等方面大有用武之地。

Edited by Zheng Xiaoan