A China-made Long March 3B rocket heads for space from the launching center in Xichang in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 20:00 (Beijing time) on April 12, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

　　China sent a communication satellite into space atop the China-made Long March 3B rocket from the launching center in Xichang in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 20:00 (Beijing time) Tuesday.

　　A spokesman for China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said the flight is the 84th successful flight of China’s Long-March launch vehicle since its maiden voyage in 1970, and the 42th consecutive successful flight since October of 1996.

　　The successful launch of the communication satellite, known as AsiaSat-6 for Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Limited, represents the return of the Chinese rockets on the international commercial launch market after an absence of seven years, said the spokesman.

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