Posted: Sun, Dec 16, 2018, 12:32 PM ET (1732 GMT)

A Chinese rocket launched several small satellites December 7. The Long March 2D rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 0412 GMT (12:12 pm Beijing time), a launch announced with little advance notice. The payload on the launch includes the SaudiSAT-5A and B satellites, Earth observation and technology demonstration spacecraft developed by Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology. Several other Chinese smallsats are also believed to be on the launch.