A Chinese satellite that will orbit Earth for 18 days and then land for recovery was successfully launched Monday aboard a Long March 2D rocket.

Liftoff from the Jiuquan Satellite Launching Center in northwest China occurred at 0720 GMT (2:20 a.m. EST). That is the same base where China launched its manned spaceflight last month.

China also launched an environmental spacecraft in October. With Monday's flight, the country has set its own record for performing three space missions in a short amount of time.

"The number of launches in such short a period is unprecedented in the country's history, indicating the country's progress in launch capability and development of launch vehicles and spacecraft," the Xinhua news agency said.

Monday's mission was China's 18th launch of a recoverable satellite. The craft reportedly carries land surveying and mapping equipment.