China launches new satellites as part of internet constellation

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Tuesday launched a group of satellites into orbit from the Wenchang Space Launch Site located in Hainan Province, southern China, state news agency Xinhua reported.

The satellites that were launched at 5:30 pm Beijing Time (0930GMT) will constitute an internet constellation.

The launch, the 7th by China this year, was successfully completed as the satellites were sent into orbit aboard a domestically-produced Long March-8 carrier rocket.

This was the 559th launch of the Long March carrier rockets.

China's first launch this year took place on Jan. 7, when the Shijian-25 test satellite was launched into space by a Long March-3B rocket.