On Tuesday, China announced that it successfully launched a satellite, according to the official CCTV television station. The broadcast stated, "At 03:30 Beijing time on January 9, 2024, China successfully launched the 'Einstein' satellite using the Long March-2C rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, and the satellite was successfully placed into the designated orbit."
In the meantime, Taiwanese authorities activated the emergency phone alert system across the island, with the warning: "China has launched a satellite that flew over southern airspace. Members of the public, please take care for your safety."
The Einstein Probe launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, located approximately 2,000 kilometers from Taiwan's capital, Taipei. The Xinhua News Agency reported that the satellite "will observe mysterious transient phenomena in the universe similar to the flashes of fireworks, aiming to uncover the violent and unknown aspects of the universe."
