XICHANG, Sichuan - China blasted off a new data relay satellite "Tianlian I-02" on Monday at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest Sichuan province.

China blasted off a new data relay satellite "Tianlian I-02" on Monday at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest Sichuan province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The satellite was launched on a Long March-3C carrier rocket at 11:41 pm (Beijing Time), said sources with the center.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the satellite is the country's second data relay satellite.

China launched its first data relay satellite "Tianlian I-01" on April 25, 2008.