China launches spacecraft via largest carrier rocket

China launches spacecraft via largest carrier rocket

The Long March-5B carrier rocket took off at 1800 local time (1000 GMT) at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the southern island province of Hainan.

China's largest carrier rocket is carrying a new-generation spacecraft, state broadcaster CCTV said.

It was the first mission carried out by the Long March-5B, CCTV reported.

The Long March-5B - with a length of about 53.7 metres and takeoff mass of about 849 tonnes - was also carrying an inflatable cargo return module.

China said in March it was aiming to launch an experimental spacecraft without a crew as part of a broader spaceflight program to shuttle astronauts to its future space station and for future manned space exploration.

The launch was earlier scheduled for mid- to late April.

China has since been racing to catch up with Russia and the United States to become a major space power by 2030.