Major scientific and technological achievements in 2017

3. First X-ray astronomical satellite launched

"Huiyan", China's first X-ray astronomical satellite, was carried by CZ-4B and launched successfully on June 15, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The data from this 2.5-ton Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope will be open to scientists all over the world.

HXMT will help scientists better understand the evolution of black holes and the strong magnetic fields and interiors of pulsars. The satellite will be a useful vehicle for the advancement of high-energy astrophysics in China, and put China among leading nations in X-ray astrophysics and space science.