China launched a new satellite for disaster reduction, emergency management and environment monitoring from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province early Thursday.

A Long March-2C rocket carrying the satellite S-SAR01 lifted off at 6:53 a.m. (Beijing Time).

By obtaining 5-meter resolution S-band radar image data, the satellite will support disaster prevention, reduction, relief and environmental protection. It will also serve natural resources, water conservancy, agriculture, forestry, earthquakes and other fields, said the China National Space Administration.