China launches new data relay satellite

XICHANG -- China successfully sent a new data relay satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province on Sunday.

The Tianlian II-05 satellite was launched at 11:54 pm (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March 3B carrier rocket and entered its planned orbit.

Tianlian II-05 is China's second-generation geosynchronous orbit data-relay satellite.