WENCHANG, Hainan -- China on Thursday sent a new communication technology test satellite into space from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China's Hainan province.

Launched at 3:30 pm (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March 5 rocket, the satellite has successfully entered its preset orbit.

This satellite will be mainly used to carry out multi-band and high-speed communication technology validation tests.

The launch marks the 650th mission carried out by the Long March carrier rocket series.