XICHANG, Dec. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- China launched a high-altitude orbiting satellite into the preset orbit successfully Tuesday morning, using a Long March 2C/SM carrier rocket, according to witnesses at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China.

    The satellite is the first of its kind launched by China. It ispart of a space probe program carried out jointly by China and theEuropean Space Agency. Enditem