Gaofen 5-02 satellite launched from Taiyuan

China launched the Gaofen 5-02 Earth-observation satellite on Tuesday morning at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province, according to the China National Space Administration.

The administration said the satellite was carried by a Long March 4C carrier rocket that blasted off at 11:01 am and then successfully entered orbit, marking the deployment of the 24th Gaofen-series spacecraft and the 387th flight of the Long March rocket fleet.

Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology based on its SAST3000 satellite platform, the Gaofen 5-02 is equipped with hyperspectral observational devices tasked with monitoring air, water and environments, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the country's major space contractor and parent company of the academy.