"Chinasat 6B," a French-made communications satellite, rocketed
into space from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest
China's Sichuan Province on Thursday.?
The satellite was lifted by a Chinese Long March-3B carrier
rocket which blasted off at 8:08 P.M. (Beijing Time) Thursday. It
was the 101st launch mission for the Long March series of carrier
rockets.
The satellite separated from the rocket 26 minutes after
lift-off, entering its preset orbit.
"Chinasat 6B," manufactured by France's Alcatel Alenia Space,
has a designed lifespan of 15 years.
Fitted with 38 transponders, the satellite is expected to
improve telecommunications transmissions for Asia, the Pacific, and
Oceania.
Last month, China launched "SinoSat-3," a communications
satellite for radio and television broadcasting, with a Long
March-3A carrier rocket, the 100th flight of the Long March
series.
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2007)
