Dong Fang Hong 1 was China's first satellite, launched on April 24, 1970. It marked a significant milestone in China's space program, demonstrating the country's growing technological capabilities. The satellite was designed for scientific research and broadcasting purposes, and it successfully transmitted a song, "The East is Red," which symbolized the Chinese revolution. The satellite was placed in a low Earth orbit, approximately 1,500 kilometers above the Earth. Dong Fang Hong 1 operated for about 20 days before its batteries were depleted. Its successful launch established China as the fifth nation to independently send a satellite into space, following the United States, the Soviet Union, France, and Japan.