Two experimental satellites launched

China used a Long March 6A carrier rocket on Thursday morning to deploy two experimental satellites into orbit, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

The state-owned space contractor said in a news release that the rocket blasted off at 9 am from a service tower at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province. After a short flight, it placed the Communication Technology Demonstrator 27A and 27B in their preset orbital positions.

The satellites were built by the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing and the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, both subsidiaries of CASC, and are tasked with providing communication services, transmitting radio and television signals, relaying data, and verifying related technologies, according to the company.

This mission marked the 55th space launch in China this year and the 660th flight of the Long March rocket fleet.