Posted: Mon, Oct 30, 2006, 8:19 AM ET (1319 GMT)
A Chinese rocket launches a communications satellite early Sunday that will provide direct broadcasting services across the country. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xinhua Satellite Launch Center at 12:20 pm EDT Saturday (1620 GMT Saturday, 12:20 am Sunday Beijing time) and placed the SinoSat-2 spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. SinoSat-2, weighing 5.1 tons, will operate in GEO from 92.2 degrees east, providing direct television broadcasting services throughout the country.

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  Reuters article
•  AFP article
•  NASA SpaceFlight.com article