China launches weather and 'smart' satellites with one rocket

Beijing: China has successfully launched two satellites with a single rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwestern Gobi desert. [caption id=“attachment_1408581” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Agencies.[/caption] One satellite is the Chuangxin-1-04 which has been designed to collect and transmit data on hydrology, weather, electric power and disaster relief. The other one is a “smart satellite” which is designed to conduct multimedia telecommunications experiments, state run Xinhua news agency reported. The two satellites have reached their preset orbits using the Long March-2D vehicle, the launch centre said. The launch marked the 192nd mission for the Long March rocket family. PTI