ISTANBUL

China on Monday launched an experimental robotic spaceship and two satellites into orbit.

The 53-meter-tall (173-foot) rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China’s Gobi Desert, according to the state-run China Daily.

Kinetica-2, the first liquid-fuel carrier rocket developed by CAS Space – a Chinese commercial space launch provider majority-owned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences – was used for the mission.

The company deployed the New March 02 experimental cargo spaceship, the New March 01 technology demonstration satellite, and the TS 01 educational satellite into their preset orbital positions.

This was the 12th orbital mission conducted by the Beijing-headquartered company and marked the first time a commercial rocket has been used in China’s manned space program.