Remote-sensing satellite launched from Gobi Desert

Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the Yaogan 33C is tasked with obtaining data for scientific research, the mapping of land and marine resources, forecasting agricultural yields and disaster prevention and mitigation, the company said.

The Long March 4C, also a product of the Shanghai academy, has a liftoff weight of 250 metric tons and is mainly used to send satellites to sun-synchronous orbits. It is capable of transporting satellites with a combined weight of 3 metric tons to a typical sun-synchronous orbit 700 kilometers above the earth.

The mission was China's 41st rocket launch this year and the 486th flight of the Long March rocket family, the nation's main launch vehicle fleet.