China launches remote sensing satellite groups

China launched a Long March 4B carrier rocket on Thursday afternoon to send six multifunctional satellites into Earth's orbit, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

The State-owned space conglomerate said in a news release that the rocket blasted off at 5 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China and then transported the Yaogan 53A, Yaogan 53B, Yaogan 53C, Yaogan 56A, Yaogan 56B, and Yaogan 56C satellites into their preset orbits.

Built by the China Academy of Space Technology, the satellites are tasked with supporting scientific missions, land resource surveys, agricultural yield forecasts, and disaster prevention and mitigation.