China launches two satellites with one rocket

BEIJING: China has successfully launched two satellites with a single rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwestern Gobi desert.

One satellite is the Chuangxin-1-04 which has been designed to collect and transmit data on hydrology, weather, electric power and disaster relief.

The other one is a "smart satellite" which is designed to conduct multimedia telecommunications experiments, state run Xinhua news agency reported.

The two satellites have reached their preset orbits using the Long March-2D vehicle, the launch centre said.

The launch marked the 192nd mission for the Long March rocket family.