China launches relay satellite into orbit

China launched a relay satellite Thursday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan province, according to the state-run China Daily.

A Long March 3B carrier rocket placed the Tianlian II-06 satellite into orbit, said China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the country's main space contractor.

The satellite will provide telemetry and data relay services for manned spacecraft, remote-sensing satellites and the Tiangong space station.

The mission marked China's 52nd space launch of the year and the sixth deployment in the Tianlian II series, the country's second-generation data relay satellite system.