Beijing, Nov 03: China today successfully launched a recoverable experimental multipurpose satellite into a preset orbit, the third space mission in less than three weeks, unprecedented in the country's space history.
The satellite was launched atop a "long march 2 d" carrier rocket from a launch centre in Northwest China.
Space officials said the China-made satellite was launched at 3:20 pm (12:50 pm IST) from a newly-built launch tower at Jiuquan satellite launch centre in Gansu province, Northwest China.
The satellite would remain in orbit for 18 days before returning to Earth, Xinhua news agency reported.
Reports from Xi'an satellite monitor and control centre say the satellite is orbiting as scheduled and its instruments are functioning normally.
It is the 18th recoverable satellite developed by China, and is technically much more advanced than the previous ones in terms of its performance.
The satellite is mainly for scientific research, land surveying, mapping and other scientific experiments, said space experts.
The launch is the 73rd by the country's "long march" carrier rockets since 1970, and the 31st consecutive successful launch since October 1996.
Bureau Report