China on Monday launched its third environment satellite aimed at sharpening its abilities in environmental monitoring and disaster forecasting, state media reported.
A Long March 2C rocket put the satellite into space, marking the completion of a project initiated in 2003 to create a small environmental monitoring satellite constellation, the Xinhua News Agency reported quoting China's Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.
The radar satellite will join the other two operating optical satellites "Environment I" launched in 2008 to form a network covering most of China's territory.
The "2+1" formula will help provide scientific evidence for assessing natural disaster situations, emergency aid and reconstruction as well as enable the country to monitor and forecast ecological changes, pollution and natural disasters round the clock, the Center claimed.
The rocket also carried two other satellites designed to run tests and carry out in-orbit experiments for new type aerospace equipment, materials, methods and miniature satellite platforms, the report added.
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