China launches two new satellites

After in-orbit tests, the satellites will join seven of their predecessors in the Siwei commercial remote-sensing satellite system, which is run by China Siwei Surveying and Mapping Technology, an operator owned by CASC. Upon its completion, the system will have 28 satellites, project planners said.

A product of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing, another CASC subsidiary, the Long March 2C rocket type is 43 meters long and 3.35 meters wide and has a liftoff weight of 242.5 metric tons. The rocket is mainly used to deploy satellites to low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.

The mission marked China's ninth space launch this year and the 561st flight of the Long March rocket family, the nation's main launch vehicle fleet.