China launches Long March 3B rocket with ChinaSat-1C military communications satellite on Dec. 9, 2015. Photo Credit: Xinhua 

[Satnews] China on Thursday morning put a new communication satellite into orbit from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

The “ChinaSat 1C” satellite was launched at 0:46 a.m. and carried by the Long March-3B carrier rocket. It will provide high-quality voice, data and radio and TV transmission services.

The satellite launched on Thursday was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and is owned by China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd.

Thursday’s launch is the 220th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

China is preparing for the first launch of its Long March-9 rocket in 2028.

This will be the country’s first manned lunar mission. Its payload will be 130 tons, which coincides with the lift capability of the Space Launch System being developed by NASA, the China Daily reports.