CHENGDU, Sept. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- China's 22nd recoverable scientific experimental satellite landed successfully in the central part of southwest China's Sichuan Province Friday morning after an 18-day flight, said sources with the country's national space department.

    Instruments aboard the experimental scientific satellite, which was launched on Aug. 29 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, functioned normally while the satellite orbited the Earth, the sources said.

    While in orbit, the instruments on the satellite completed a series of scientific experiments, including land surveying and mapping, the sources added.

    The Satellite Track and Control Center tracked and controlled the satellite from Xi'an.

    China successfully retrieved its first recoverable satellite on Nov. 29, 1975. Its tracking and recovering technology has been improving thanks to its increasingly mature orbit control and landing capability. Enditem