BEIJING - China successfully launched a high-definition Earth observation satellite into orbit on Tuesday, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND).

The Gaofen-2 was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi province at 11:15 am Beijing Time. It was boosted by a Long March-4B carrier rocket.

It is China's most advanced high-definition Earth observation satellite, and is able to see a one-meter-long object in full color.

It will be used for geographic and resources surveys, environment and climate change monitoring, precision agriculture, disaster relief and city planning.