Posted: Tue, Dec 15, 2009, 7:20 AM ET (1220 GMT)
For the second time in less than a week China has launched a remote sensing satellite. A Long March 4C rocket launch lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 9:31 pm EST Monday (0231 GMT, 10:31 am Beijing time Tuesday) and placed the Yaogan 8 satellite in orbit, according to state-run media. The report released no other information about the spacecraft and its mission. China launched another remote sensing satellite, Yaogan 7, last week. Also launched on the same rocket Tuesday was Hope 1, described as a small satellite to help students "experience aerospace science and technology".

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  RIA Novosti article