China launched its first X-ray space telescope on Thursday to analyse black holes, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts.
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The launch took place from Gobi Desert at 11 am (8.30 IST/ 3:00 GMT). A Long March-4B rocket carried the 2.5-tonne telescope into orbit from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT), named Insight, will help Chinese scientists to understand the evolution of black holes and assess the interiors of pulsars and magnetic fields.
The HXMT will also help scientists in searching for gamma-ray bursts corresponding to gravitational waves and study how pulsars can be used for spacecraft navigation.
Insight is expected to push forward the development of space astronomy and improves space X-ray detection technology in China.
Beijing sees its multi-billion-dollar space programme as a symbol of its rise and of Communist Party's success in turning around the fortunes of the once poverty-stricken nation.
In April, China's first cargo spacecraft had successfully docked with an orbiting space lab - a key development toward China's goal of having its own crewed space station by 2022.
Last month, China opened a "Lunar Palace" laboratory on Earth to simulate a moon-like environment and house students for up to 200 days as the country prepares for its long-term goal of sending humans to the natural satellite.
China has scheduled a launch of the core module of its manned space station in 2019, which will get into operation by 2022. The Chinese International Space Station (ISS) counterpart, which will orbit for at least for a decade and apart from a core module, it will have two more modules.
Source: AFP
