China launches first mobile telecom satellite

China on early Saturday successfully launched the first satellite for mobile telecommunication. The Tiantong-01 satellite was launched at 00:22 a.m. Beijing Time, at southwestern China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center, with the Long March-3B carrier rocket. It is the first satellite of China's home-made satellite mobile telecom system, and a key part of the country's space information infrastructure. More geostationary satellites will be sent into orbit for the system. More

(Source: Xinhua - Aug 6)