China launched a new satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Tuesday.

A Long March-6 carrier rocket, carrying the Tianping-3 satellite, blasted off at 8:10 a.m. Beijing Time and sent the satellite into the preset orbit.

The satellite will be mainly used for ground radar equipment calibration and radar cross section measurement. It will also support imaging tests for ground optical equipment and detection and monitoring tests of the low-orbit space environment, as well as services for atmospheric space environment surveys and orbit prediction model correction.

The launch marks the 541st flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.