On July 7, the first sounding rocket of “Meridian Project”, a national program of science and technology carried out by Center for Space Science and Applied Research (CSSAR), CAS, was launched at the launching site of Hainan Rocket Sounding Department, Chinese Academy of Sciences. “It has far-reaching meaning in monitoring space environment in a self-relied manner for our country and ensuring the safety of space activities” as reported by the Xinhua, the biggest Chinese news agency.

　　Along with the rapid development of the Chinese space industry and the space technology, there is an increasingly growing demand for independent space environment insurance. The International Space Weather Meridian Circle Program (ISWMCP), the “Meridian Project” for short, is designed to connect 120ºE and 60ºW meridian chains of ground based observatories and enhance the ability of monitoring space environment worldwide.

　　15 ground based stations have been deployed along120ºE and 30ºN, as of the date of 7 July, 2011. The sounding instrument, remote measurement instrument, the launch pad and other application systems are developed by CSSAR.

　　(Supplied by Office of International Cooperation)