CHINA on Tuesday sent a sea-launched rocket into space from the waters surrounding Haiyang, a coastal city in the eastern province of Shandong, placing four satellites into planned orbit. The rocket maker, Galactic Energy, became the first Chinese private company to carry out a sea-based launch mission. The commercial launch vehicle, CERES-1, blasted off at 5:34 p.m. The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center conducted the offshore mission. Galactic Energy said it was the 9th flight and the first sea-based mission of the CERES-1 series. Compared with a land-based launch, the sea launch is a new mode, having more flexibility, better adaptability, and more cost-effective services. The satellites will provide global data services for application scenarios such as emergency communications, ecological environment monitoring, and tower detection. (Xinhua) | 