Chinese mapping satellite deployed in Earth orbit

A Chinese mapping satellite is circling Earth after launching on a Long March rocket Tuesday, according to official media reports. The Tianhui 1 satellite was released in a circular orbit more than 300 miles above Earth following liftoff aboard a Long March 2D booster at 0710 GMT (3:10 a.m. EDT). The 13-story rocket took off from the Jiuquan launching base near the border of northern China's Inner Mongolia and Gansu provinces, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. Liftoff occurred at 3:10 p.m. Chinese time. More

(Source: Space Flight Now - Aug 26)