China launched new satellites into space on Thursday to test communication technologies, according to the China National Space Administration.

The satellites were launched at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province aboard a modified Long March-6 rocket.

The satellites successfully entered their planned orbits after the launch.

They will be used mainly for satellite communications, television and broadcasting services, and data transmission. They will also support tests and verification of related technologies.

Thursday’s launch marked the 660th mission of the Long March rocket series.