Posted: Sat, Apr 26, 2008, 7:31 AM ET (1131 GMT)
A Long March rocket launched a data relay satellite Friday that will be used to support China's human spaceflight program. The Long March 3C lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China at 11:35 am EDT Friday (1535 GMT, 11:35 pm Beijing time) and placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit the Tianlian 1 satellite. The spacecraft is billed as China's first data relay satellite, designed to transfer data from other Chinese satellites to ground stations. The major application of the satellite will be to enhance communications for China's Shenzhou manned spacecraft, which previously have only been able to communicate when in range of a ground station or tracking ship. The launch was the first for China in 2008.

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  Spaceflight Now article