China launches Pakistani satellite into orbit

China launched a Pakistani satellite into space Saturday, placing it into its planned orbit, according to media reports.

The PRSC-EO3 satellite was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern China’s Shanxi Province, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

It lifted off at 8.15 pm Beijing time (1215GMT) aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket.

The report said the satellite “successfully entered its planned orbit” following the launch.

The mission marked the 640th flight of the Long March carrier rocket series, a key component of China’s space program.

No further technical details about the mission were provided.