China launched a new data relay satellite, Tianlian II-04, into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Wednesday. 

China's second-generation geosynchronous orbit data-relay satellite will provide data relay and TT&C (telemetry, tracking and command) services for manned spacecraft such as spaceships and space stations, for medium and low-Earth-orbit resource satellites, and TT&C support for spacecraft launches.