Posted: Mon, Nov 3, 2003, 9:12 AM ET (1412 GMT)
A Long March booster launched a Chinese science satellite carrying imaging experiments as well as seeds to be irradiated in space. The Long March 2D lifted off from the Jiuquan launch center in northwestern China at 2:20 am EST (0720 GMT, 3:20 pm Beijing time) Monday and placed the FSW-18 satellite into low Earth orbit. The satellite is designed to remain in orbit for 18 days before returning to Earth. The spacecraft is carrying equipment for "scientific research, land surveying, mapping and other scientific experiments," according to Chinese reports. Included in the payload are samples of seeds designed to be irradiated in space in the hopes that they will produce better crops. The launch is the third in less than a month for China, the first time the nation had made three launches in such a short timespan. China had carried out just one launch in 2003 prior to the October 15 launch of Shenzhou 5.

Related Links:

•  People's Daily article
•  AFP article