* Astronomy

China launched two space probe satellites on a single rocket at 7:34 am local time on 24 October, 2006. The two satellites which constitute Group-02 of Shijian-6 satellites will replace two others who have reached the end of their lifetimes. These satellites are used for performing a number of space exploration programs like probing the space environment, analysing the influence of radiation on the environment and various other physical quantities associated with the space environment.

The launch took place from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in the Shanxi province of North China. The satellites were carried by a Long March-4B rocket, the first of which was disengaged 11 minutes after launch and the second a minute later. Both the satellites have settled into their pre-determined orbits. Both satellites have a working life expectancy of about 2 years.

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