Aug. 21 2013

 China's civilian technology satellites have officially been put into use, said the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) on Wednesday.

The satellites, named Practice-9 A and Practice-9 B, were developed by an affiliate company of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. They are the first in a series of civilian satellites designed for technological experimentation, said SASTIND.

Development of the satellites is crucial for narrowing the space technology gap between China and other countries, said Guo Baozhu, a chief engineer of the Practice-9 satellites.

"The satellites can play an important role in promoting space technology innovation and application, as well as reduce risks of development," said Guo.

The satellites will be used to experiment with domestically developed components, satellite formations and inter-satellite measurement, according to SASTIND.

China successfully launched the Practice-9 A and Practice-9 B satellites into space on Oct. 14, 2012.