China launched its latest Gaofen-9 Earth observation satellite and two smaller payloads from the Jiuquan launch centre late Saturday. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed (Chinese) the launch, mission success and the payloads. The Gaofen-9 (05) optical remote sensing satellite follows the launch of the third Gaofen-9 satellite in June and the fourth earlier this month. Previous satellites were capable of providing sub-meter resolution imagery.

The Long March 2D rocket carrying the satellites lifted off from Jiuquan in the Gobi Desert at 10:27 p.m. Eastern.

Also sent into orbit was Tiantuo-5, a small satellite developed by the National University of Defence Technology. Tiantuo satellites are experimental satellites carrying remote sensing and other payloads including AIS receivers.

Saturday’s launch was the 23rd for China in 2020, including launches of the Long March 5B, which paves the way for launch of Chinese space station modules in 2021, and the Long March 5, which last month launched the country’s first independent interplanetary mission.