The reporter learned from the National Space Administration that at 18:51 on October 14, China successfully launched the first solar exploration science and technology test satellite "Xihe" by using the Long March 2 D carrier rocket at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The star will achieve the international first solar H α The space exploration of band spectral imaging fills the gap of high-quality observation data in the solar burst source area and improves China's research ability in the field of solar physics, which is of great significance to the development of space scientific exploration and satellite technology in China.

The full name of "Xihe" is sun H α The spectrum detection and double super platform science and technology test satellite operates in the solar synchronous orbit with an altitude of 517 km, and the main scientific load is the solar space telescope. H α It is one of the best spectral lines to study the response of solar activity in photosphere and chromosphere. Through the data analysis of this spectral line, the changes of atmospheric temperature, velocity and other physical quantities during solar eruption can be obtained, which is helpful to study the dynamic process and physical mechanism of solar eruption. During the in orbit operation of the satellite, the photosphere and chromosphere performance of solar flares and coronal mass ejections will be observed to explore the dynamic characteristics and trigger mechanism of the source region of solar eruptions. At the same time, the chromosphere performance of the formation and evolution of solar dark stripes will be detected to reveal its internal relationship with solar eruptions, and the full solar surface h will be obtained α Band Doppler velocity distribution to study the dynamic process of the lower atmosphere of the sun, which provides important support for solving the scientific problems such as "the physical model of the whole process of energy transmission from the interior and surface of solar burst".

The satellite adopts the "double super" satellite platform design with ultra-high pointing accuracy and ultra-high stability. The platform will apply maglev technology in orbit and adopt the new overall design method of "dynamic and static isolation non-contact", so as to physically isolate the platform cabin from the load cabin, block the impact of micro vibration of the platform cabin on the load work, and greatly improve the load attitude pointing accuracy and attitude stability. In the future, the dual super platform technology will also be widely used in new generation space missions such as high-resolution detailed earth survey, large-scale three-dimensional mapping, solar three-dimensional exploration and extrasolar planet discovery, so as to promote the leapfrog development of space science and space technology in China.

The mission successfully carried two intergovernmental cooperation microsatellites of the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO): college student microsatellite-1 and college student microsatellite-2a, mainly to carry out technical verification such as coiled extension arm deployment, satellite based broadcast monitoring and inter satellite communication. The Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization is the first international organization in the field of high technology initiated by China. This mission is the first satellite launch since the establishment of the organization. In addition, the launch also carried 8 commercial microsatellites.

In order to further encourage the public, especially young people, to pay attention to space, spread the spirit of space and stimulate their enthusiasm for exploration, under the guidance of the National Space Administration, the press and Publicity Office of the National Space Administration, the eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and Nanjing University jointly organized and launched the naming activity of the first scientific and technological test satellite for solar exploration, and received more than 10000 naming schemes. After solicitation Selection and expert recommendation are three links, and the final name is "Xihe". Xihe is the goddess of the sun and the goddess of the calendar in ancient Chinese mythology, and people recognize the image of the sun mother. This name takes the meaning of "imitating Xi he's controlling heavenly horses and aiming to herd stars in the sky", which symbolizes the origin and expansion of China's exploration of the sun.

The National Space Administration is responsible for the organization and management of satellite projects, the organization and coordination of major issues and the approval of launch permits. Nanjing University, as the user department, is responsible for the construction and operation of science and application systems. The constituent units of China land observation satellite data center are responsible for the construction and operation of ground systems according to their division of labor, Shanghai Aerospace Technology Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is responsible for the overall development of satellite system and launch vehicle system, and China satellite launch measurement and control system department is responsible for the organization and implementation of launch site and measurement and control system.

This mission is the 391st launch of the long march series of launch vehicles.