China sent an observation satellite into space from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province at 7:52 a.m. BJT Thursday.

The satellite, Gaofen-12, launched aboard a Long March-4C carrier rocket, entered the planned orbit successfully. It was the 320th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

As part of the country's high-definition earth observation project, the microwave remote sensing satellite is capable of providing photographs with a resolution of better than a meter per pixel.

Gaofen-12 will be used in land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimate and disaster relief. It can also serve projects along the Belt and Road.

Both the satellite and the carrier rocket were developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.