China successfully launches Tianhui-5 satellite

TAIYUAN -- China successfully launched a satellite on Wednesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi province.

A modified version of the Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying the satellite Tianhui-5 lifted off at 6:50 am (Beijing Time).

The satellite has entered its preset orbit. It will be used for geographic mapping, land resource survey, scientific experiments and other missions.

The launch was the 494th mission undertaken by the Long March rocket series.