XICHANG, Sichuan, Feb. 12 (China Space News) -- China sent two satellites into orbit on a single carrier rocket for its domestic BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) on Monday.

The twin satellites, which form a network with four previously launched BeiDou-3 satellites, were the fifth and sixth satellites in the BeiDou-3 family. They entered orbit more than three hours after the launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The twin satellites were launched by the LM-3B YZ-1 rocket. The launch was the 267th mission for the Long March rocket family.