A Long March 4B rocket carrying the Haiyang-2E satellite blasts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China, July 2, 2026. [Photo by Wang Jiangbo/For chinadaily.com.cn]

JIUQUAN -- China on Thursday sent a new marine satellite into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China.

A Long March 4B rocket carrying the Haiyang-2E satellite took off at 7:46 am (Beijing Time), sending the satellite into the planned orbit.

The launch was the 654th by the Long March rocket series.