XICHANG, Sichua - China will launch a new data relay satellite "Tianlian I-02" in the next few days at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Sources with the center said Sunday that a Long March-3C rocket carrier will carry the satellite into space.

Both the satellite and rocket carrier are launch-ready and preparations are going smoothly, the sources said.

China launched the country's first data relay satellite "Tianlian I-01" on April 25, 2008.