China has launched two satellites, named Chuangxin 1-03 and Shiyan 4, on a Long March 2D carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu Province, north-west China.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed the Chuangxin 1-03 satellite to collect and relay water conservation, hydrological and meteorological data, plus data for disaster relief efforts.
The Shiyan 4, developed by the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, will be used for experiments on space technologies and an environment probe.
China is expected to have launched 25 satellites by the end of 2011.
