China successfully sent a data relay satellite into preset orbit from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province on July 6.

The satellite, named Tianlian I-05, atop a Long March-3C rocket, was launched at 11: 53 pm Beijing time.

China's self-developed Tianlian relay satellites are mainly to provide data relay, measurement and control services for China's manned spacecraft, space labs and space stations. They also offer data relay services for the country's medium- and low-Earth orbiting resources satellites, as well as measurement and control support for spacecraft launches.

The country initiated the Tianlian I relay satellite system project in 2003, and launched its first data relay satellite, the Tianlian I-01, in 2008, which successfully completed the data relay services for the Shenzhou-7 manned mission in the same year.

The Tianlian I-02, -03 and -04 satellites were launched in 2011, 2012, and 2016 respectively.

The Tianlian I-05 satellite will operate in a constellation with the four predecessors and the second-generation relay satellite Tianlin II-01.

This is the 378th flight mission of China's Long March rocket series.