Kuaizhou 1A launches satellites into orbit

China launched a Kuaizhou 1A carrier rocket on Thursday morning at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the country's northwestern desert, placing four weather satellites in orbit, according to China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp.

The State-owned company said in a news release the solid-propellant rocket blasted off at 11:20 am from its launch vehicle and put the Tianmu 07, 08, 09 and 10 meteorological satellites into their preset orbit. The mission marked the 21st flight of the Kuaizhou 1A model and its third launch this year.