New satellite launch center to conduct joint drill

China's new satellite launch center, located in south China's Hainan province, will conduct a joint drill in the second half of this year.

The drill at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center aims to comprehensively test the center's functionality, a necessary step for future launch programs, according to a senior official in charge of the program.

The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center is the fourth satellite launch center in China.

A satellite launched from Wenchang, located in a low-latitude area, is expected to enjoy longer service life as a result of the fuel saved by the shorter maneuver from the transit orbit to geosynchronous orbit.