China launched a new remote sensing satellite "Yaogan II" from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 15:12 Beijing Time on Friday.

The satellite, launched by the "Long March 2D" rocket, will be used for scientific research, land resources surveying, crop yield estimate and disaster forecast, according to the China Academy of Space Technology, the main developer of the satellite.

A pico satellite, tiny satellite weighing around one kilogram, developed by Zhejiang University, was also carried on "Yaogan II", for micro-electronics research.

The launch represents the 99th flight of China's Long March series of rockets.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2007)