China launches 3 new satellites to study 'space environment'

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China launched three new satellites into space on Wednesday to undertake scientific space environment surveys and model correction, state-run media reported.

The indigenously-built Long March-11 carrier rocket was blasted into space with the satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, shortly entering their planned orbit.

The three satellites, Tianping-2A, Tianping-2B and Tianping-2C, will provide services such as atmospheric space environment survey and orbital prediction model correction, Xinhua News reported.

This was China's eighth space mission this year.

With the latest launch, the Long March rocket series marked its 413th mission.

On Tuesday, China launched a new variant of its Long March rocket series for the first time.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. said the 50-meter Long March 6A carrier rocket was blasted into space at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern Shanxi province.

The rocket carried two satellites -- Pujiang 2 and Tiankun 2 -- into orbit.