Posted: Thu, May 2, 2013, 8:33 AM ET (1233 GMT)
A Long March rocket launched a Chinese communications satellite early Thursday. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 12:06 pm EDT Wednesday (1606 GMT Wednesday, 12:06 am Beijing time Thursday) carrying the Chinasat-11 satellite. The satellite, weighing about 5,000 kilograms at launch, will provide television and other communications services using a payload of Ku- and C-band at 50 degrees east longitude in GEO.

Related Links:

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