China sent a new satellite into orbit on Monday in its first launch of the new year.
A Long March-7A carrier rocket, carrying the Shijian-23 satellite, blasted off at 6 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan. The satellite successfully entered its planned orbit.
The Long March-7A carrier rocket is moved out of the general assembly building at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan, China, January 9, 2023. /CASC
The Shijian-23 satellite is mainly used for scientific experiments and technical verification.
The launch was the 459th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.
Read more: China plans over 60 space launch missions in 2023
(CGTN's Zheng Yibing also contributed to this story.)