China launched a space observation satellite on Tuesday, an operation state television called a “success” at a time when Taiwan sent a warning message to its people.
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The satellite, named Einstein Probe (EP), which uses new X-ray detection technology, was launched at 3:03 p.m. (07:03 GMT), the official Xinhua news agency added.
EP “will observe mysterious transient phenomena in the universe comparable to the sparkling of fireworks,” the agency said.
According to New China, the Einstein probe will specifically help scientists “capture the first light from supernova explosions” that occur at the end of the lives of certain stars.
The satellite was launched on a Longue Marche 2C rocket, the launch of which produced a cloud of white smoke, according to images from the CCTV broadcaster.
The launch caused concern in Taiwan, where authorities sent a warning message to the population amid tensions with Beijing and four days before a presidential election.
The message sent to phones initially caused confusion because the English translation referred to a “missile overflight in Taiwan's airspace.”
The Einstein probe was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (southwest China), about 2,000 kilometers from Taipei.
China considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces that has not yet succeeded in reunification with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
Beijing says it supports “peaceful” reunification with Taiwan but does not rule out the military option to achieve that goal.