China launches two satellites to monitor weather, atmosphere

Asia-Pacific News

Nov 5, 2008, 7:42 GMT

Beijing - China on Wednesday launched into orbit two satellites to monitor the weather and natural disasters and test technology for atmospheric exploration, state media said. The satellites were launched by a Long March-2D rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the north-western province of Gansu, the official Xinhua news agency said. The smaller satellite, the Chuangxin 1-02, was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences to 'collect and relay hydrological and meteorological data and data for disaster relief,' the agency said. The Shiyan Satellite-3 would be used for 'experiments on new technologies in atmospheric exploration,' it quoted developers at the Harbin Institute of Technology as saying. Wednesday's launch was the 112th of China's Long March series of rockets, it said. China launched two more satellites for monitoring the environment and natural disasters in September. Last year, the government said it planned to develop a new range of heavy-duty Long March rockets for its space and commercial satellite programmes over the next three decades. In 2003, China became the third country to launch a manned rocket into space after Russia and the United States. Its third manned mission, launched in late September, carried out China's first spacewalk.

Your Talkback on this Story

Older Talkback

Latest Headlines in Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific: Index

: News; Features

Latest Pics

From Sites We Like

The Fine Print

© 2003 - 2009 by Monsters and Critics.com, WotR Ltd. All Rights Reserved. All photos are copyright their respective owners and are used under license or with permission. * Note M&C cannot be held responsible for the content on other Web Sites.

Servers supplied by Servint

USA

Asia-Pacific

China launches two satellites to monitor weather, atmosphere

Asia-Pacific News

Your Talkback on this Story

Older Talkback

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Asia-Pacific

From Sites We Like

Latest Tech Herald News

Latest from Fark

Latest Cinema Blend News

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print