Posted: Fri, Nov 19, 2004, 8:32 AM ET (1332 GMT)
China launched a small experimental satellite late Thursday, according to Chinese media reports. A Long March 2C lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 5:45 am EST Thursday (1045 GMT, 6:45 pm Beijing time) and placed into orbit the "Experimental Satellite No. 2" spacecraft, according to the Xinhua news service. The spacecraft, weighing 300 kg, will be used for experiments and to "monitor the earth's land resources and geographic environment" while in orbit, according to news reports. The launch was the eighth this year by China.

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  PTI article