China launched a new test satellite for satellite internet technology from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province early on Sunday.

A Long March-2D rocket carrying the satellite blasted off at 2:07 a.m., sending it into the preset orbit.

The satellite will be mainly used for conducting technical tests and verifications, such as direct satellite-to-phone broadband connectivity and space-ground network integration.

Developed by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the two-stage liquid-propellant carrier rocket is capable of sending either single or multiple satellites into different orbits. It can carry a 1.3-tonne payload to a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers.

The launch marks the 646th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.