HAIYANG, Shandong, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China launched a Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket from the waters near the city of Haiyang in east China's Shandong Province on Tuesday, placing eight satellites into planned orbit.

The commercial rocket blasted off at 10:31 a.m. (Beijing Time), carrying Tianyi-41 and other satellites.

The Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carried out this offshore launch.  ■