Posted: Fri, Mar 5, 2010, 6:47 AM ET (1147 GMT)
China launched a remote sensing satellite Friday, the latest in a series of satellites thought to have military applications. The Long March 4C rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 11:55 pm EST Thursday (0455 GMT, 12:55 pm Beijing time Friday) and placed the Yaogan 9 satellite into orbit. Chinese media described the satellite as one that would carry out scientific experiments and perform various civil remote sensing activities, although it is widely suspected that the spacecraft is also, or instead, a military reconnaissance satellite.

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  NASASpaceFlight.com article