China today launched two satellites, days after successfully docking two space modules in outer space for the first time as part of its ambitious plans to build its own space station by 2020.
The satellites, named Chuangxin 1-03 and Shiyan Satellite 4, were launched into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Gansu Province by the Long March 2D carrier rocket.
Chuangxin 1-03 will be used to collect and relay hydrological and meteorological data, information on water conservancy, power supply and disaster relief from monitoring stations, Xinhua reported.
Shiyan Satellite 4, developed by the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, is China's fourth technology experiment satellite and will be used for experimenting with space technologies and environment probe.