China to launch new remote sensing satellite

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-30 16:56

JIUQUAN -- China will launch a new remote sensing satellite "Yaogan" on Monday at the northwestern Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu, an official with the center said on Sunday.

The satellite was to be aboard a Long March-2D carrier rocket into the space "at an appropriate time", the official said.

At present, both the rocket and the satellite were in good condition and the preparation went on well.

The satellite would be used for scientific research, land resources surveying, crop yield estimate and disaster prevention and relief. "It will play a positive role in the country's economic development," he said.

Its predecessor "Yaogan III" was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on November 12, 2007.

The "Yaogan I" satellite was launched from Taiyuan on April 27, 2006, and the "Yaogan II" was launched on May 25, 2007 from Jiuquan.