A Long March-2C rocket carrying the Macao Science 1 is launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China, May 21, 2023. /CMG

The cooperation between the Chinese mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region reached a new level as a Long March-2C rocket carried the Macao Science 1 to its designated orbit on Sunday.

The satellite is the world's first and only satellite launched to the near-equatorial orbit to observe the geomagnetic field. It's also the first satellite developed by the Chinese mainland and Macao together.

Data collected by the satellite will be shared between the Chinese mainland and Macao, which can help scientists study the origin of the Earth's geomagnetic field, predict weather more precisely and improve the safety of spacecraft.

The satellite will also help verify new geomagnetic theories, according to the mission website made by Macao University of Science and Technology.

Those who are interested in the research can download some of the data once details are uploaded online.

The same rocket also brought Luojia-2 01 satellite to space for Wuhan University. This is the 474th launch of the Long March rocket series.

Source: CGTN