Dong Fang Hong 1 (simplified Chinese: 东方红一号; traditional Chinese: 東方紅一號; pinyin: Dōngfānghóng Yīhào; lit. 'The East is Red 1'), in the western world also known as China 1 or PRC 1,[3] was the first space satellite of the People's Republic of China (PRC), launched successfully on 24 April 1970 as part of the PRC's Dongfanghong space satellite program. It was a part of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" program. At 173 kg (381 lb), it was heavier than the first satellites of other countries. The satellite carried a radio transmitter which broadcast the de facto national anthem of the same name. The broadcast lasted for 20 days while in orbit.
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![]() DFH-1 model satellite | |
Names | lit. The East is Red 1 China 1 PRC 1 |
---|---|
Mission type | Technology demonstration |
Operator | CAST |
COSPAR ID | 1970-034A ![]() |
SATCAT no. | 04382 |
Mission duration | 20 days (achieved) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | CASC |
Launch mass | 173 kg (381 lb) [1] |
Dimensions | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) of diameter |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 24 April 1970, 13:35:45 GMT[2] |
Rocket | Chang Zheng 1 |
Launch site | Jiuquan, LA-5020 |
Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
Entered service | 24 April 1970 |
End of mission | |
Last contact | 14 May 1970 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit[1] |
Regime | Medium Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 441 km (274 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 2,286 km (1,420 mi) |
Inclination | 68.42° |
Period | 114.09 minutes |
It was developed under the direction of Qian Xuesen, dean of the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). At the time, a total of five identical satellites were created. The first satellite launched successfully. The academy formulated a "Three-Satellite Plan" consisting of Dongfanghong 1, re-entry satellites, and geosynchronous orbit communications satellites. Sun Jiadong was responsible for the Dongfanghong 1 technology. In 1967, Dang Hongxin chose a copper antenna membrane that resolved the difficulties of broadcasting on an ultra-short wave antenna between 100 °C and −100 °C. Engineers installed a music player playing "The East is Red" on the satellite.
While Dongfanghong 1 was transported to the launch site by train, armed guards were placed between every two electricity poles. On 24 April 1970, at 13:35:45 GMT,[2] a Long March 1 (CZ-1) lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, placing the Dongfanghong 1 satellite in orbit at 13:48 GMT.[citation needed]
The primary purpose of the Dong Fang Hong 1 satellite was to perform tests of satellite technology and take readings of the ionosphere and atmosphere.[citation needed]
The satellite was similar in shape to a symmetrical 72-faced polyhedron, had a mass of 173 kg (381 lb), and had a diameter of approximately 1 m (3 ft 3 in). It spun 120 times per minute for stabilization. The outer surface was coated with a processed aluminum alloy for temperature control. The main body of the sphere had four ultrashortwave whip antennas of at least 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in length. The lower section was connected to a stage containing a rocket motor. It had a shiny metallic ring added to the bottom, with brightness magnitude from +5 to +8.[citation needed]
The satellite was launched into orbit with a perigee of 441 km (274 mi), an apogee of 2,286 km (1,420 mi) and inclination of 68.42°. This near-Earth elliptical orbit was 114.09 minutes per orbit.[1] It has Satellite Catalog Number 04382 and International Designator 1970-034A.[4]
Dong Fang Hong 1 had a design life of 20 days. During that time, it transmitted telemetry data and space readings to the Earth. On 14 May 1970, its signal stopped.
Date (AD) | Perigee (km) | Apogee (km) |
---|---|---|
24 April 1970 | 441 | 2286 |
23 August 1996 | 431 | 2164 |
01 January 2010 | 430 | 2073 |
15 April 2022 | 429 | 2030[6] |
With the successful launch of Dong Fang Hong 1, China became the sixth country after the Soviet Union, United States, France, Italy and Japan to independently launch a satellite. Although Dong Fang Hong 1 was launched nearly 13 years after Sputnik I, its mass exceeded the combined masses of the first satellites of the other four countries. After this launch, Qian Xuesen proposed to the Chinese government that China should develop a manned space program and submitted a manned space undertaking report to which Mao Zedong personally approved.[citation needed]
On 21 April 2005, the Chinese Academy of Space Technology gathered the science and technology personnel who participated in the design, manufacture, production, and supervision of Dong Fang Hong 1. The birthplace of Dong Fang Hong 1, the Beijing Satellite Manufacturing Plant, was used as a monument. The manufacturing plant, in coordination with the Shenzhou 5 manned spacecraft anniversary, created a 1:1 scale replica of the Dong Fang Hong 1 satellite. It was exhibited in the Beijing Planetarium.
← 1969 · Orbital launches in 1970 · 1971 → | |
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Kosmos 318 | OPS 6531 | Intelsat III F-6 | Kosmos 319 | Kosmos 320 | Kosmos 321 | Kosmos 322 | ITOS-1 · Australis-OSCAR 5 | DS-P1-I No.6 | SERT-2 | E-8-5 No.405 | Kosmos 323 | Ohsumi | OPS 0054 | Molniya-1 No.17 | Kosmos 324 | Kosmos 325 | OPS 0440 · OPS 3402 | Wika · Mika | Kosmos 326 | Meteor No.14 | Kosmos 327 | NATO 2A | Kosmos 328 | Kosmos 329 | Kosmos 330 | Nimbus 4 · Topo-1 | Kosmos 331 | OPS 7033 · OPS 7044 | Kosmos 332 | Apollo 13 | Kosmos 333 | OPS 2863 | Intelsat III F-7 | Kosmos 334 | Dong Fang Hong 1 | Kosmos 335 | Kosmos 336 · Kosmos 337 · Kosmos 338 · Kosmos 339 · Kosmos 340 · Kosmos 341 · Kosmos 342 · Kosmos 343 | Meteor No.13 | Kosmos 344 | Kosmos 345 | OPS 4720 · OPS 8520 | DS-P1-Yu No.36 | Soyuz 9 | Kosmos 346 | STV-3 | Kosmos 347 | Kosmos 348 | Kosmos 349 | OPS 5346 | Meteor-M No.17 | OPS 6820 | Molniya-1 No.21 | Kosmos 350 | Kosmos 351 | Unnamed | Kosmos 352 | Kosmos 353 | Zenit-4 No.75 | OPS 4324 | Intelsat III F-8 | Kosmos 354 | Interkosmos 3 | Kosmos 355 | Kosmos 356 | Venera 7 | OPS 7874 | Skynet 1B | Kosmos 357 | Kosmos 358 | Kosmos 359 · Kosmos 359 | OPS 8329 | Transit O-19 | Kosmos 360 | OPS 7329 | Orba · X-2 | OPS 0203 | Kosmos 361 | Luna 16 | Kosmos 362 | Kosmos 363 | Kosmos 364 | MS-F1 | Kosmos 365 | Molniya-1 No.19 | Kosmos 366 | Kosmos 367 | Kosmos 368 · Nauka No.3 | Kosmos 369 | Kosmos 370 | Kosmos 371 | Interkosmos 4 | Meteor-M No.16 | Kosmos 372 | Kosmos 373 | Zond 8 | Kosmos 374 | OPS 7568 | Kosmos 375 | Kosmos 376 | OPS 5960 | OFO · RM-1 | Luna 17 (Lunokhod 1) | Kosmos 377 | Kosmos 378 | OPS 4992 · OPS 6829 | Kosmos 379 | Kosmos 380 | Molniya-1 No.23 | OAO-B | Kosmos 381 | Kosmos 382 | Kosmos 383 | Kosmos 384 · Nauka No.2 | NOAA-1 · CEPI | Uhuru | Kosmos 385 | Peole | Kosmos 386 | Kosmos 387 | Kosmos 388 | Kosmos 389 | DS-P1-M No.1 | Molniya-1 No.22 | |
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Crewed flights are indicated in underline. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in (brackets). |