China launches new satellite

A Long March-4B rocket carrying Ziyuan III 04 satellite blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, on Dec. 16, 2025. The satellite was launched at 11:17 a.m. Beijing time. (Photo by Wang Yapeng/Xinhua)

TAIYUAN, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- China sent a new satellite into space on Tuesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi.

The Ziyuan III 04 satellite was launched by a Long March-4B rocket at 11:17 a.m. Beijing time, according to the center.

It was the 617th flight mission of the Long March rocket series.

A Long March-4B rocket carrying Ziyuan III 04 satellite blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, on Dec. 16, 2025. The satellite was launched at 11:17 a.m. Beijing time. (Photo by Wang Yapeng/Xinhua)

A Long March-4B rocket carrying Ziyuan III 04 satellite blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, on Dec. 16, 2025. The satellite was launched at 11:17 a.m. Beijing time. (Photo by Wang Yapeng/Xinhua)

A Long March-4B rocket carrying Ziyuan III 04 satellite blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, on Dec. 16, 2025. The satellite was launched at 11:17 a.m. Beijing time. (Photo by Wang Yapeng/Xinhua)