China launches civilian technology satellites

TAIYUAN -- China successfully launched the Practice-9 A and Practice-9 B satellites into space at 11:25 am Sunday, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center said.

China successfully launched the Practice-9 A and Practice-9 B satellites, boosted by a Long March-2C carrier rocket,  into space from the center in North China's Shanxi province at 11:25 am Sunday. [Photo / Xinhua]

The satellites, launched from the center in North China's Shanxi province, were boosted by a Long March-2C carrier rocket and sent into a predetermined orbit.

The Practice-9 A and B are the first in a series of civilian satellites designed for technological experimentation.

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Developed by an affiliate company of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the satellites will be used to experiment with domestically developed components, satellite formations and inter-satellite measurement, the center said.