On Mon, 8 Aug 2011 21:46:49 +0200 (CEST), Anonymous
wrote, in part:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n...rch/index.html

"Launching in a torrential rain and lightning storm, a Long March
rocket lifted off Tuesday from southwest China and successfully
released a navigation satellite in orbit, state-run media reported."

Are they taking huge risks or are their rockets that reliable?

Maybe the storm was an unexpected one that started after the rocket was
fuelled. That is the only circumstance under which I could imagine this
might make sense.

John Savard
http://www.quadibloc.com/index.html