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China on Saturday successfully launched a new carrier rocket into space from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan.

The Long March-12 carrier rocket blasted off at 10:25 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the site's No. 2 launch pad, and sent two experimental satellites into their planned orbits.

The launch mission achieved complete success at 10:48 p.m., according to Hainan provincial authorities.

The mission was the maiden flight of the Long March-12 carrier rocket, and the first launch mission undertaken by the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site.