ISTANBUL

China on Friday launched into space the country's first flat-panel communications satellite, local media reported.

The Kuaizhou-1A rocket is delivering the experimental communications satellite, Longjiang-3, into pre-set orbit, the daily Global Times said.

Beijing launched the solid-fueled carrier rocket, Kuaizhou-1A, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the Gobi Desert, northern China, and southern Mongolia.

Notably, China on Wednesday launched a carrier rocket with 26 satellites on board, which is mainly used for technology verification and commercial remote sensing information services.