spacetoday.net: China launches first satellite in four months

Posted: Sat, Aug 9, 2014, 9:58 AM ET (1358 GMT)
Long March 4C launch of Yaogan 20 (Xinhua)

A Long March rocket launched what Chinese officials called a remote sensing satellite on Saturday. The Long March 4C rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 1:45 am EDT (0545 GMT, 1:45 pm Beijing time) Saturday and placed the Yaogan 20 satellite into orbit. The satellite, according to official Chinese media, will be used for remote sensing applications and scientific experiments. Some outside observers, though, believe the the payload is a three-satellite system that will be used to monitor naval activity, similar to the American NOSS system. The launch was the first orbital launch by China since late March.