Date:04/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/04/stories/2007020402291200.htm

International - Globescan

China launches satellite

XICHANG (China): China successfully put a navigation satellite into orbit early on Saturday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The carrier rocket, Long March 3-A, blasted off at 0:28 a.m. Beijing Time. The satellite separated from the rocket about 24 minutes later. Data from the Xi'an satellite monitoring centre showed that the satellite had accurately entered its orbit. It is China's fourth Beidou navigation satellite in orbit. Experts said the Beidou satellite navigation experimental system is operating well. — Xinhua