Twin navigation satellites launched in China

China on Friday successfully launched twin satellites via a single carrier rocket in Xichang of southwest China's Sichuan province.

This added two more members to its domestic BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), reports Xinhua.

As per the report, "the Long March-3B carrier rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 1:56 a.m. The launch was the 269th mission for the Long March rocket family."

The satellites, coded 30th and 31st in the BDS, entered the orbit more than three hours after the launch.

Now, after passing a series of tests, they will work together with six previously launched BeiDou-3 satellites.

"The satellites and the rocket for Friday's launch were developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, respectively," the report further said.