![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2023/05/22/1dda20de2b5b48179379d8a25acb9212.jpg)
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying Macao's first space exploration satellite, Macao Science 1, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 21, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Jiangbo)
Macao Science 1 is the first space science satellite program jointly developed by the Chinese mainland and Macao. The project is also the first scientific exploration satellite placed in a near-equatorial orbit to monitor the geomagnetic field and the space environment.
It was the 474th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2023/05/22/747eedb7614b4cd9a2e79c8c0aa4bc2c.jpg)
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying Macao's first space exploration satellite, Macao Science 1, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 21, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Jiangbo)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2023/05/22/fb0391c1c4c4459891a91257bcc2643f.jpg)
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying Macao's first space exploration satellite, Macao Science 1, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 21, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Heng)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2023/05/22/c3bf2ce60e2046bda33bb6c7f96be4d0.jpg)
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying Macao's first space exploration satellite, Macao Science 1, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 21, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Jiangbo)
![](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2023/05/22/8529f254e2434c14be688e2e9f44d0be.jpg)
A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying Macao's first space exploration satellite, Macao Science 1, blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 21, 2023. (Photo: China News Service/Wang Heng)