China puts satellite in orbit

XICHANG, China, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- China launched a Long March 3A carrier rocket Thursday, putting a communication satellite into orbit around the Earth, officials said.

The rocket was launched at 12:09 a.m. from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, Xinhua reported.

The "Zhongxing-20A" satellite is expected to improve China's radio and television broadcasts, officials at the launch center said in a statement.

It was the 135th launch of a Long March series rocket since April 24, 1970, the state-run news agency said.