China launches two new satellites

China launched a Long March 2C carrier rocket on Monday morning, deploying two satellites into their preset orbit, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the nation's leading space contractor.

The State-owned conglomerate said in a news release that the rocket blasted off at 7:39 am from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China and soon placed the satellites, Siwei Gaojing 2C and 2D, into orbit.

Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a CASC subsidiary, the satellites are equipped with high-resolution radars and will be used to obtain data for the management of natural resources, city security, emergency response and maritime operations.

A product of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing, also a CASC subsidiary, the Long March 2C rocket type measures 43 meters long and 3.35 meters wide and has a liftoff weight of 242.5 metric tons. The rocket is mainly used to deploy satellites to low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.

The mission marked China's 57th space launch this year and the 547th flight of the Long March rocket family, the nation's main launch vehicle fleet.