WENCHANG, Hainan, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday sent a payload combination of a satellite and an upper stage aircraft into space with the latest heavy-lift Long March-5 carrier rocket.

In its maiden flight, the rocket blasted off at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, at around 8:43 p.m. Thursday Beijing Time.

Shijian-17, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is a satellite for verifying new technology in geostationary orbit, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said.

The Yuanzheng-2 is China's largest liquid-fuel upper stage aircraft with the strongest capability for orbit transfer. The integration of Yuanzheng-2 with Long March-5 carrier rocket will strengthen China's capability to launch multiple satellites with one vehicle and send satellites directly into orbit.