China launches two satellites

22 November 2011: China placed two satellites in orbit on 20 November 2011, including a spacecraft that will collect and relay data for disaster relief efforts. The two satellites were successfully launched aboard a Long March carrier rocket, China's main space launch vehicle, from northwest China's Jiuquan satellite launch centre.

The Chuangxin 1-03 satellite, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will collect and relay water conservation, hydrological and meteorological data, plus data for disaster relief efforts. The Shiyan-4, developed by the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, is an experimental satellite which will study the earth's environment and test new space technologies.

Source: Economic Times