China launches ocean-salinity detection satellite

China sent a new satellite for ocean-salinity detection into space on Thursday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).　

The satellite was launched at 6:42 a.m. (Beijing Time) using a Long March-4B Y53 carrier rocket, and has successfully entered its preset orbit.　

The satellite will fill the gap of China's high-precision global ocean-salinity detection capabilities, improve data collection on ocean dynamics and environmental factors, and boost the accuracy of China's marine forecasting products, said the CNSA.