China launches new data relay satellite

China sent a new data relay satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province Wednesday.

A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Tianlian II-03 satellite, Photo- Qiu Lijun[Xinhua]

The Tianlian II-03 satellite was launched at half an hour to one o'clock Wednesday Beijing Time by a Long March-3B carrier rocket.

Tianlian II-03 is China's second-generation geosynchronous orbit data relay satellite.

It will provide data relay and TT&C (telemetry, tracking and command) services for manned spacecraft and low and middle orbit resources satellites. It will also support the TT&C for the spacecraft launch.

This was the 426th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

Source: Xinhua, Editor- Huaxia