China today launched a land exploration satellite into a preset orbit for remote sensing operations. <br/><br/>State-run Xinhua news agency reported that it was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi in the early hours. A Long March-2D rocket carried the satellite into space. <br/><br/>The satellite is mainly used for remote sensing exploration of land resources. The launch was the 259th mission of the Long March rocket<br/>series.