China launches record-breaking five satellites into orbit

China's Long March-11 carrier rocket, carrying five satellites, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu at 12:42 pm Thursday.

China's Long March-11 carrier rocket, carrying five satellites, was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu at 12:42 pm Thursday.

This has broken China's record in the number of satellites launched at the same orbital plane.

The satellites, named Zhuhai-1, are expected to provide global big data in sectors including agriculture, forest, natural resources, environmental protection, transportation and modern finance.

The launch was the 272nd mission of the Long March rocket series.