This Day, That Year: March 7

Editor's note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China.

On March 7, 1988, China launched a telecommunications satellite to improve the country's communications infrastructure.

Developed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, Dongfanghong 2 was a primary television satellite used by central and local TV stations.

An item from Feb 5, 1990, in China Daily showed engineers watching the launch of the country's fifth telecommunications satellite in the command room in Xichang, Sichuan province.

The country's first satellite Dongfanghong 1 was sent into space in April 1970. The space program symbolizes the nation's policy of independence and self-reliance.

After decades of research and development, the country has become a leader in the telecommunications satellite sector.

The most advanced is Shijian 13, which was launched on April 12, 2017. It marked the start of the country's large-capacity communications network.

China's first high-throughput communications satellite, which weighs 4.6 metric tons, will stay in a geostationary orbit about 36,000 kilometers above the Earth for 15 years.

In July 2017, the Shijian 18 communications satellite, the nation's largest and heaviest, was launched by a Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. But the mission was thwarted as a result of the rocket's mechanical malfunctions. The rocket and satellite fell into the ocean.

China also launched the world's first quantum-enabled satellite in August 2016.

It was a major step in the country's bid to be at the forefront of quantum research, which could lead to new, completely secure methods of transmitting information.

Last year, leading space contractor China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp unveiled a plan to build the country's largest satellite constellation.

Upon its completion, the Hongyan constellation will consist of more than 320 satellites operating in low-Earth orbits, capable of providing phone services and broadband internet access to users anywhere on the globe, according to the academy.