Launch Represents 50 Satellites In Space

China launched two satellites into space Tuesday -- from the same missile. The two Shijian Six spacecraft were lifted aboard the Long March-4b rocket in the early morning take-off from the main Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern province of Shanxi, said the official Xinhua news agency.

Satellite A detached about eleven minutes after launch, and Satellite B about a minute later.

While many countries are capable of lofting satellites, China is only the fourth nation able to send multiple spacecraft from a single launcher. It has launched about 50 satellites since the first one in 1970. That model was sent up during China's tumultous "Cultural Revolution" and continually broadcast the snappy tune, "The East is Red" until the batteries (thankfully?) gave out.

China is also only the third country to put a human in space and plans a spacewalk by 2008.

The two satellites are designed to perform a variety of space experiments and last about two years. They are  replacing two earlier satellites who have reached the end of their useful life.

FMI: www.cnsa.gov.cn/