Posted: Sun, Mar 30, 2025, 9:07 AM ET (1307 GMT)
China launched a data relay satellite to support its human spaceflight program Wednesday. A Long March 3B lifted off at 11:55 am EDT (1555 GMT) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and placed the Tianlian-2 (04) satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Tianlian-2 satellites are similar to NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, providing communications for Shenzhou spacecraft and the Tiangong space station.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Xinhua article