China launches three multifunctional satellites into space

China launched three multifunctional satellites into space on Wednesday afternoon, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the nation's leading space contractor.

A Long March 2C carrier rocket lifted off at 12:01 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and soon transported the Shijian 30A, 30B, and 30C satellites to their preset orbit, the State-owned company said in a news release.

The satellites have been built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a CASC subsidiary, and will be used to survey the space environment and conduct technology demonstration, it added.

A product of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing, also a CASC subsidiary, the Long March 2C rocket type is 43 meters long and 3.35 meters wide and has a liftoff weight of 242.5 metric tons. The rocket is mainly used to deploy satellites to low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.

The launch marked the 74th space mission in China and the 608th flight of the Long March rocket fleet.