JIUQUAN — China launched a land resources exploration satellite into a preset orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert at 3:10 pm on Jan 13 Beijing Time.

A Long March-2D rocket carried the satellite into space.

The launch was the 263rd mission of the Long March rocket series.

China launches a land resources exploration satellite into a preset orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, China, on Jan 13, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]

China launches a land resources exploration satellite into a preset orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, China, on Jan 13, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]