By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA) - China launched a new satellite into orbit Thursday for space exploration from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan province, state-backed Xinhua News reported.
The Shiyan-28B 01 satellite took off aboard a Long March-4C carrier rocket at 5.35 pm local time (0935GMT) and entered its orbit.
The test satellite will be used primarily to explore the space environment and test related technologies.
It marked the 583rd launch mission of the domestically developed Long March rocket series.