China sent a new data relay satellite, Tianlian II-06, into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province, on Thursday.

Launched aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket at 8 p.m., the satellite will provide data relay and telemetry as well as tracking and command services for China's crewed spacecraft, space station, and medium- and low-Earth-orbit resource satellites. It will also play a key role in spacecraft launches.

The mission was the 658th flight of the Long March rocket series.