Daily Mail: China launches a test of the 'world's most powerful rocket' as part of its planned mission to send a probe and rover to Mars in 2020
* China is one of four countries that are planning to send missions to Mars in 2020
* The others are the USA, a joint Europe/Russia mission and a UAE orbiting probe
* The launch is a test of 'key technologies' that will help China's space ambitions
* China also plans to launch the first parts of its new space station in the next year
China has launched one of the world's most powerful rockets in a major step towards its planned mission to send a rover to Mars in 2020.
The 'Long March 5' rocket left the Wenchang launch site on the island of Hainan on Friday carrying a Shijian 20 test satellite.
It launched at 12:45 GMT and the satellite was sent into its planned orbit after 33 minutes, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.
The success of the Long March 5 launch gets the Chinese space programme back on track after a previous attempt in July 2017 failed mid-launch.
It was a test of 'key technologies related to future space missions', according to the China's National Space Administration.
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WNU Editor: This is China telling the world that it is a major space power .... China’s space programme gets back on track with successful Long March 5 rocket launch (SCMP).
More News On The Recent Success Of China's Space Program
Long March-5 rocket returns to flight with successful launch -- CGTN
China's largest carrier rocket Long March-5 makes new flight -- Xinhuanet
China's Huge Long March 5 Rocket Returns to Flight in Dazzling Nighttime Launch -- Space.com
China launches powerful rocket in boost for 2020 Mars mission -- AFP
China successfully launches Long March 5 rocket, paving way for more ambitious space projects -- CNN
China's wildly ambitious future in space just got a big boost with the successful launch of its new heavy-lift rocket -- Business Insider