China launches 8 satellites into orbit on a 2D rocket

China launched eight satellites into orbit on Thursday, aboard a two-dimensional “Long March 2D” rocket.

“The Jilin 1 Quanfu 01C satellite was launched with 7 other Jilin 1 Gaofen 03D satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province (north),” Xinhua said.

She added that “the eight satellites entered the pre-set orbit successfully.”

The launch took place at 10:38 am Beijing time (02:38 GMT), according to the same source.

“Jilin 1 Quanfu 01C, which has a wide coverage, provides commercial remote sensing data services for sectors such as earth resources, mineral exploration and smart city construction,” the agency explained.

This is the 419th mission of the Long March series of missiles, according to Xinhua.