"Chinasat 6B", a French-made communications satellite, rocketed into space from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday, July 5, 2007.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    XICHANG, Sichuan, July 5 (Xinhua) -- "Chinasat 6B", a French-made communications satellite, rocketed into space from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday.

    The satellite was lifted by a Chinese Long March-3B carrier rocket which blasted off at 8:08 p.m. (Beijing Time) Thursday. It was the 101st launch mission for the Long March series of carrier rockets.

    The satellite separated from the rocket 26 minutes after lift-off, entering its preset orbit.

    "Chinasat 6B", manufactured by France's Alcatel Alenia Space, has a designed lifespan of 15 years.

    Fitted with 38 transponders, the satellite is expected to improve telecommunications transmission for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania.

    China on June 1 launched "SinoSat-3", a communications satellite for radio and television broadcasting, with a Long March-3A carrier rocket, the 100th flight of the Long March series.