China's space program reached a new milestone after the successfully launch of the country's first microgravity satellite in the early hours of Wednesday.

According to Xinhua, the SJ-10 satellite blasted into space on the back of the Long March 2-D rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern part of Gobi desert.

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Designed in unique bullet shape, the satellite will perform 19 experiments during its voyage to study various aspects of microgravity, including microgravity fluid physics, microgravity combustion, microgravity biological effect, space bio-technology and space radiation effect.

"All experiments conducted on SJ-10 are completely new ones that have never been done before either at home or abroad. They could lead to key breakthroughs in our academic research," said Hu Wenrui, chief scientist of the SJ-10 mission.

Unlike ordinary satellites, SJ-10 is a retrievable satellite. This means that after orbiting space for 15 days it will return back to earth with results. China has sent as many as 24 retrievable satellites into space.

In the decade, China has made huge investment in science and space research. Experts say China's space program is not only aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in technology, but also bolstering the country's image as a "rising economic power."

China's successful landing of a land rover on moon in 2013 was widely hailed by scientific community and global leaders. Now China is aiming to build a manned space station and send crewed expedition to the moon by 2020.

China is also engaged in many other interesting space programs, some of which have already caught the fancy of the scientific community. This includes building the world's largest telescope, located in Guizhou province,  which will become operational in October this year. China also expanded its underground space laboratory, located in Sichuan province, earlier this year to conduct in-depth research on elements of our universe.

TagsChinese space prgram, Chinese staellite, China's Microgravity Satellite