TAIYUAN — China on Wednesday launched Gaofen 5, a hyperspectral imaging satellite, as part of the country's high-resolution Earth observation project.

The Gaofen 5 satellite was launched off the back of a Long March 4C rocket at 2:28 am Beijing Time from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi province. It was the 274th flight mission by a Long March carrier rocket.

The satellite can be used for comprehensive environmental monitoring.

The satellite is developed and produced by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and has a designed life of eight years.