Beijing: China has successfully launched two scientific satellites, including a "nano-satellite" for the first time, heralding a breakthrough in space technology, the official media reported today (April 19, 2004).

A "Long March II C" rocket carrying Nano-Satellite I, which weighs just 25 kg and an "Experiment Satellite I", weighing 204 kg, blasted off at 23:59 hrs (21:29 hrs IST) yesterday from the Xichang satellite launch centre in Southwest China's Sichuan province, Xinhua news agency reported today.

About a dozen minutes after lift-off, the carrier rocket first released the "Experiment Satellite I" and then "Nano-Satellite I" 30 seconds later. Data from the Xi'an satellite monitoring and control centre showed that the satellites were orbiting as designed and the launch was a success.

The latest launch was the 76th flight of Long March carrier rockets and the 34th successful launch in a row since October 1996.

The successful launch indicated a technological breakthrough in the country's development of small satellites, Chinese space scientists said.

The successful launch has made China the fourth country in the world that is capable of launching nano-satellites after Russia, the United States and Britain, they said.