A Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianlian II-02 satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Dec 14, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

XICHANG -- China sent a new data relay satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province early Tuesday morning.

The Tianlian II-02 satellite was launched at 0:09 am (Beijing Time) by a Long March-3B carrier rocket.

It was the 401st flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.