New Chinese satellite for data relay sent into orbit

Tianlian II-04 is the second satellite of China‘s newer generation planned for data transmission in geosynchronous orbit.

Xinhua News said Thursday that China had successfully launched a new data-relaying satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, which is situated in the  Sichuan Province of southwest China.

Using a Long March-3B rocket, China successfully sent the Tianlian II-04 satellite to its intended destination in space at 3:55 p.m. GMT on Wednesday.

Tianlian II-04 is China’s second-generation satellite designed for data relay in geosynchronous orbit.

The satellite will offer data relay and telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) services for manned spacecraft, including spaceships and space stations, as well as for medium and low-Earth-orbit resource satellites, and provide TT&C support for spacecraft launches.

This marked the 565th launch in the Long March carrier rocket series.