China launches new test satellite

A Kuaizhou-11 Y2 carrier rocket carrying the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) test satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Dec. 7, 2022. The satellite was launched at 9:15 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

JIUQUAN, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- China successfully sent a new test satellite into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Wednesday.

The VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) test satellite was launched by a Kuaizhou-11 Y2 carrier rocket at 9:15 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit.

The satellite will be mainly used for communications test and key technologies verification of the VDES and the automatic identification system (AIS).

It was the 23rd flight mission of the Kuaizhou-11 rockets, according to the launch center.

A Kuaizhou-11 Y2 carrier rocket carrying the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) test satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Dec. 7, 2022. The satellite was launched at 9:15 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

A Kuaizhou-11 Y2 carrier rocket carrying the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) test satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Dec. 7, 2022. The satellite was launched at 9:15 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

A Kuaizhou-11 Y2 carrier rocket carrying the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) test satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Dec. 7, 2022. The satellite was launched at 9:15 a.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)