China successfully launched the remote-sensing satellite Yaogan XII Wednesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern Shanxi province, according to a press release from the center.

Carrying two satellites, a Long March 4B carrier rocket takes off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province, Nov. 9, 2011. Using a Long March 4B carrier rocket, China sent into space its "Yaogan XII", a remote-sensing satellite, and "Tianxun I", another Chinese satellite, on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

The satellite was sent into space aboard a Long March 4B carrier rocket at 11:21 a.m. Beijing Time, according to the center.

The satellite will be used to conduct scientific experiments, carry out surveys on land resources, estimate crop yield and help with natural disaster-reduction and prevention.

Also hitching a ride on the rocket was the satellite Tianxun I, which will be used to carry outtechnological verification tests, according to the center.

Yaogan XI was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu province in September last year.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Provided by:

Center for Earth Observation and Digital Earth,CAS;The Lanzhou Branch of the National Science Library/The Scientific Information Center for Resources and Environment,CAS