Posted: Wed, Nov 5, 2008, 9:50 PM ET (0250 GMT)
A Long March rocket Wednesday launched a pair of satellites designed for meteorological and earth sciences research. The Long March 2D lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest CHina at 7:15 pm EST Tuesday (0015 GMT Wednesday) and placed into low Earth orbit the Chuangxin 1-02 and Shiyan Satellite 3 spacecraft. Chuangxin 1-02, according to Chinese media accounts, will be used to collect hydrological and meteorological data for disaster relief and other applications. Shiyan Satellite 3, the larger of the two spacecraft launched, is intended to test "new technologies in atmospheric exploration". The launch, the third in less than two weeks by China, was not announced in advance.

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  RIA Novosti article