Roaring rocket lifts satellite into space

In addition to transporting the satellite to space, the flight is intended to verify the engineering adjustments that were made to improve the rocket's overall design, as well as key technologies to be used in a journey to the moon with the Chang'e 5 probe, according to the China National Space Administration. Another task of Friday's mission is to verify several key satellite technologies.

The successful launch sparked a wave of public cheers and celebrations, along with those from within Chinese space circles.

Xing Qiang, an independent space affairs researcher and a well-known observer in Beijing, said a great number of people in China are attached to this mission because Long March 5 is so important. It shoulders the responsibility of making many of the country's space aspirations a reality.

The Long March 5-Y3 was transported in late October by two ships, Yuanwang 21 and Yuanwang 22, to Wenchang from the production facility in Tianjin. It was assembled and tested at the Wenchang center over the past two months.

The Y3 designation signifies the third mass-production rocket in the Long March 5 series.