China to launch research satellite in near future

BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- China will launch a scientific research satellite into space in the near future from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province, a spokesman with the center said Wednesday.

The satellite, "Shijian XI-01," would be carried by a China-developed Long March 2C rocket, he said.

Both the satellite and the rocket were in good condition and preparations were proceeding well, the spokesman said without giving further details.

According to a white paper published in 2006, China's Shijian, or Practice, series of satellites are designed for scientific research and technological experiments.