China launches rocket to deploy Earth-observation satellite

The satellites' major user, the Ministry of Natural Resources, said that China pays nearly 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) each year for data and images obtained by foreign synthetic aperture radar satellites and those foreign products are far from enough to meet the needs of the country's landform survey and disaster forecast and monitoring operations.

Therefore, the satellites will help to reduce China's dependence on foreign satellite products in this regard, the ministry said.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp plans to carry out more than 50 rocket launches this year to transport over 140 spacecraft to their orbit. That means the total number of launches in China is likely to surpass 60 in 2022 given that another State-owned contractor -- China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp – and the country's private space enterprises will also conduct launches using their own rockets.