Posted: Tue, Sep 15, 2015, 8:10 AM ET (1210 GMT)
China launched Saturday what it says is an experimental communications satellite. The Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 11:42 am EDT (1542 GMT, 11:42 pm Beijing time) Saturday and placed the spacecraft, unofficially called the Communications Engineering Test Satellite-1, into orbit. The spacecraft, according to Chinese media reports, will be used to test Ka-band communications technologies. Some outside observers speculated the launch might be part of an effort to develop missile early warning systems.

Related Links:

•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  Xinhua article