China launches new remote sensing satellite

China launched the Yaogan-23 remote sensing satellite into scheduled orbit at 2:53 a.m. on Saturday Beijing Time from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.

The satellite will mainly be used for scientific experiments, natural resource surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster relief.

It was carried by a Long March-2C rocket, marking the 198th mission for the Long March rocket family.

China launched the first satellite in the "Yaogan" series, Yaogan-1, in 2006.