China launches heaviest satellite to test key technologies

WENCHANG, Hainan, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Aboard the third Long March-5 rocket, China's largest carrier rocket, Shijian-20, a new technology test and verification satellite, successfully entered its orbit Friday night.

Launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, Shijian-20, weighing more than eight tonnes, is the country's heaviest and most advanced communications satellite in geosynchronous orbit, according to its maker, the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).