A Long March II C rocket carrying Nano-satellite I, which weighs just 25 kilograms (55 pounds), blasted off at 11:59 pm (1559 GMT) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, the Xinhua news agency said.

A second satellite will be launched on Tuesday, the People's Daily said on its website.

The satellites will observe the earth from outer space and perform other scientific duties, according to the paper.

The two satellites are among a total of 10 that China plans to send into orbit this year as its space program enters a "pivotal" period, state media reported previously.

China became the third country after the United States and the former Soviet Union to achieve manned space flight in October last year, when astronaut Yang Liwei orbited the earth 14 times.

SPACE.WIRE