China's commercial rocket Smart Dragon-1 makes maiden flight

The Smart Dragon-1 made a successfully maiden flight and delivered satellites into orbit on Saturday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

The Smart Dragon-1 is launched by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia on Saturday, August 17, 2019. [Photo: CCTV]

The launch of the Jielong, which means smart dragon, is a major step forward for the CASC, as it's the first rocket series made by the company solely for commercial launches.

The 19.5-meter-long and 1.2-meter-wide rocket has a take-off weight of about 23 tons.

The Smart Dragon-1 is launched by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Inner Mongolia on Saturday, August 17, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

It took CASC less than 18 months to design and build the Jielong-1 and successfully complete its first flight.

The rocket will mainly be used to launch mini satellites that weigh less than 100 kilograms.

The company said it has signed six commercial contracts for the launch of around 30 satellites.