China launches new remote sensing satellite

China launched a Long March-4B carrier rocket on Tuesday to place a new satellite, Yaogan-47, into space.

The remote sensing satellite was lifted off at 11:41 (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, and has entered the preset orbit successfully.

It will be primarily used in national land surveys, urban planning, road network design, crop yield estimation, environmental management, and disaster prevention and mitigation.

The launch was the 614th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

China launches new remote sensing satellite

China launches new remote sensing satellite

China launches new remote sensing satellite

China launches new remote sensing satellite

Russia's military said on Tuesday that its air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 280 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 13 rockets of U.S.-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system over the past 24 hours, while Ukraine's commander-in-chief admitted that the Ukrainian forces are facing the most serious challenges since the conflict broke out.

Russian aerospace forces also shot down a Ukrainian air force Su-27 aircraft in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that its troops attacked Ukrainian targets in 157 locations including the Ukrainian army's energy infrastructure facilities and sites for the storage of long-range UAVs.

Since the start of conflict, Russia has destroyed 669 Ukrainian combat aircraft, 283 helicopters and 101,411 drones, according to the ministry.

In total, it said, 639 surface-to-air missile systems, 26,467 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,627 multiple rocket launchers, 31,815 field artillery pieces and mortars, and 48,692 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed.

Also on Tuesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Ukrainian troops engaged in 139 combats with Russian soldiers on the front lines over the past day. Ukrainian forces implemented offensives against Russia's artillery system, drone control points and other targets.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Tuesday that the Ukrainian forces are facing "some of the most serious challenges" since the start of the war as Russia is intensifying offensive actions.

Russia claims downing Ukrainian drones, Ukraine admits facing most serious challenges