First joint China-EU satellite launched

BEIJING (AFP) Dec 30, 2003
China successfully launched a high-altitude satellite into orbit early Tuesday as part of the first ever joint Chinese-European mission, state media reported.

Witnesses said the satellite was launched using a Long March 2C/SM rocket at 3:06 am (1906 GMT Monday) from Xichang in Sichuan Province, Xinhua news agency reported.

The satellite is the first high-altitude orbiting satellite launched by China. It is part of a space probe program being carried out jointly by China and the European Space Agency (ESA) to study the earth's magnetic field.

Tracking reports from the Xi'an Satellite Monitor and Control Center showed the launch was successful, Xinhua reported.

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