Posted: Thu, Nov 25, 2010, 9:34 AM ET (1434 GMT)
China launched Thursday a communications satellite believed to be dedicated to military applications. The Long March 3A rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 11:09 am EST Wednesday (1609 GMT Wednesday, 12:09 am Beijing time Thursday) and placed the Zhongxing-20A satellite into orbit. Official Chinese media accounts said that the satellite would be used for radio and television broadcasts from GEO, but other sources suggested that the spacecraft, also known as Shen Tong-1, would be used for secure Ku-band military communications for China's People's Liberation Army.

Related Links:

•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  Xinhua article