(Photo: Chenli/ People's Daily)

One experimental and four micro-nano satellites were successfully sent into orbit on a Long March 2D carrier rocket on Tuesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China.

The Shiyan-6 experimental satellite will be used for space environment detection, while a set of twin Tianping-1 micro satellites will be deployed for accuracy calibration of ground monitors.

Micro-nano satellites weighing under 10 kilograms can have better global coverage with a low cost, making them a feasible to operate for private Chinese companies, according to Science and Technology Daily.

(Photo: Chinanews.com)

The Jiading-1 nano satellite, privately designed by a domestic space company, was also launced this time as the first star for the“Xiangyun” commercial communication system in LEO.  

In addition, China's first "software defined" micro-satellite, whose functions can be programmed through a private computer or even a smartphone, was sent for carrying out space experiments and tests on adopting the Android smartphone operating system and open source satellite software in space. 

The launch marks the 292nd flight of the Long March series of rockets. 

(Photo: Chinanews.com)