China launched a new experimental communications satellite aboard a Kuaizhou-1A carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Friday.

The rocket blasted off at 10:35 a.m. local time, sending the satellite, dubbed as Longjiang-3, into preset orbit.

Featuring high reliability, accuracy with short preparation period and low cost, the solid-propellant Kuaizhou-1A rocket mainly launches satellites weighing under 300 kilograms into a low-Earth orbit.

The experimental satellite, jointly developed by Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and HIT Satellite Technology Co., is the country's first plate-shaped satellite.

It will be mainly used to verify key technologies in satellite-Earth high-speed communication and plate-shaped satellite platform.

Friday's launch marks the 20th mission of the rocket.