China joined the space age when it launched its first satellite Dong Fang Hong-1 on April 24, 1970. China became the fifth country behind the Soviet Union, the U.S., France and Japan, to independently launch a satellite. Dong Fang Hong-1 weighed a whopping 381 lbs, which was more than the weight of the previous satellites combined.
Its primary purpose was to analyze the ionosphere and atmosphere, but for 20 days, it broadcast "The East is Red", the name of the satellite. Its signal stopped on May 14, however, it remains in orbit.
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