HAIYANG, Shandong -- A Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket lifted off from the waters off East China's Shandong province on Wednesday, sending Oriental Smart Eye hyperspectral satellites 01 and 02 into the planned orbits.

The rocket blasted off at 10:38 am (Beijing Time) from the sea near the city of Haiyang. Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center conducted the offshore launch mission.