A Chinese marine observation satellite designed to monitor ocean pollution, measure sea temperatures and track ship movements successfully launched Friday on top of a Long March 2C rocket.

The Haiyang 1C spacecraft lifted off at 03:15 GMT Friday (11:15 p.m. EDT Thursday) from the Taiyuan space center in Shanxi province, located in northeastern China, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Source: Spaceflight Now

Image credit: Xinhua - A Chinese Long March 2C rocket lifted off Friday with the Haiyang 1C ocean observation satellite.