The first group of China's Yaogan-31 remote sensing satellites were sent into space on Tuesday at 12:25 p.m. Beijing time from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.
A Long March 4C carrier rocket blasts off at 12:25 pm at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert of the country's northwest, April 10, 2018. [Photo: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp]
The satellites were carried by a Long March-4C rocket, the 271st mission for the Long March rocket family.
The mission also sent a micro nano technology experiment satellite into orbit.
The satellites will be used for electromagnetic environment surveys and other related technology tests.
China launched the first "Yaogan" series satellite, Yaogan-1, in 2006.