China launches tech-experiment satellite

XICHANG, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday sent a technology experiment satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The experiment satellite for satellite internet technologies was launched at 6:00 p.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-2D carrier rocket, and entered its planned orbit successfully.

The launch is the 498th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

It is also the 84th mission of the Long March-2D carrier rocket.

A two-stage liquid propellant launch vehicle, the Long March-2D is capable of lifting 1.3-tonne payloads to the sun-synchronous orbit 700 km above Earth.

This carrier rocket has the capability of launching both single and multiple satellites into various orbits.

The upper stage Yuanzheng-3, or Expedition-3, atop the rocket, also contributed to the success of the mission.

Thursday's launch is the Yuanzheng-3's first mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. To enhance the carrying capacity, it collaborated with the Long March-2D carrier rocket in this launch mission.