China launches remote-sensing satellite

Images and data from the Gaofen satellites have been widely used at thousands of research bodies and enterprises in dozens of industries across China and have helped reduce the country's dependence on foreign remote-sensing products.

The Long March 4C, also a product of the Shanghai academy, has a lift off weight of 250 metric tons, and is mainly used to send satellites to sun-synchronous orbit. It is capable of transporting satellites with a combined weight of 3 metric tons to a typical sun-synchronous orbit 700 kilometers above the earth.