China launched its solid carrier rocket Lijian-1 at 12:12 p.m. on Wednesday (Beijing Time), successfully sending six experimental scientific satellites into preset orbit.  

Developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lijian-1 lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The six satellites will focus on technology verification and experiments on new space technologies, orbital atmospheric density detection, low-orbit quantum key distribution and electromagnetic assembly testing.

(CMG's Zheng Weijie and Zhang Jie contributed to the story.)