The Chinese government launched the Yaogan 12 remote-sensing satellite aboard a Long March 4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the country’s northern Shanxi province, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported Nov. 9.
The launch took place Nov. 8 around 11:30 p.m. EST, according to Xinhua. Yaogan 12 will be used to conduct scientific experiments, carry out surveys on land resources, estimate crop yield and help with natural disaster-reduction and prevention, Xinhua said.
A smaller satellite called Tianxun I was launched along with Yaogan 12. The latter will be used “to carry out technological verification tests,” Xinhua said.
