China launches new communication satellite, completes 300 launches of Long March rocket series

In a bid to strengthen its broadband communication system, China lifted into space a Long March-3B carrier rocket into a geostationary orbit in Sichuan province in the wee hours of Sunday.

The 'ChinaSat 6C' satellite was launched at around 12.28 am (local time) from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. The 19-story-tall rocket is expected to provide high-quality radio and television transmission services, Xinhua News Agency reported.

It marked the 300th launch of the Long March carrier rocket series, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The communication satellite can cover China, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific island countries.

The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and will be operated by the China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd.

In April 1970, China launched its first carrier rocket, a Long March-1, to send its first satellite, Dongfanghong 1 into space. Since then, the country has built 17 types of Long March rockets with five of them being retired, according to reports.

Nearly 97 per cent of China's total launch missions have been carried out by the Long March rocket series.