# Dong Fang Hong I

> first satellite launched by China

**Wikidata**: [Q49678](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49678)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dong_Fang_Hong_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dong-fang-hong-i

## Summary  
Dong Fang Hong I is China's first artificial satellite, launched in 1970. It was a technology demonstration spacecraft that broadcast the song "The East Is Red" from orbit. The satellite marked China's entry into space exploration and was part of the Dong Fang Hong satellite series.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date**: April 24, 1970  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Long March 1, China's first orbital rocket  
- **Mass**: 173 kilograms  
- **Operator**: China Academy of Space Technology  
- **Launch Site**: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center  
- **COSPAR ID**: 1970-034A  
- **Primary Mission**: Technology demonstration and broadcasting "The East Is Red"  
- **Aliases**: China 1, PRC 1  
- **Parent Series**: Dong Fang Hong (Chinese communications satellite series)  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Dong Fang Hong I's primary purpose?  
A: It was China's first satellite, designed to demonstrate space technology and broadcast the song "The East Is Red" as a symbolic achievement.  

### Q: Where was Dong Fang Hong I launched from?  
A: It was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using the Long March 1 rocket.  

### Q: How much did Dong Fang Hong I weigh?  
A: The satellite had a mass of 173 kilograms.  

## Why It Matters  
Dong Fang Hong I was a landmark achievement for China, marking its entry into the space race during the Cold War era. Its successful launch demonstrated China's technological capabilities and national pride, symbolized by the broadcast of "The East Is Red," a revolutionary anthem. The mission paved the way for China's future space programs, including crewed missions and lunar exploration. It also established China as the fifth country to independently launch a satellite, joining the ranks of the Soviet Union, United States, France, and Japan.  

## Notable For  
- **First Chinese Satellite**: The inaugural launch of China's space program.  
- **Cultural Symbol**: Broadcast "The East Is Red," reinforcing national identity.  
- **Technological Milestone**: Demonstrated China's ability to develop and launch orbital spacecraft.  

## Body  
### Launch and Mission  
- Launched on April 24, 1970, from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.  
- Carried by the Long March 1 rocket, the first in China's Long March family.  

### Design and Payload  
- Weighed 173 kilograms.  
- Primary payload included telemetry equipment and an audio transmitter broadcasting "The East Is Red."  

### Legacy  
- Marked China's emergence as a spacefaring nation.  
- Predecessor to the Dong Fang Hong satellite series, which later included communications satellites.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013