China's new satellite launch center, located in south China's Hainan Province, will conduct a drill in the second half of this year.

The drill at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center aims to test the center's functionality, a necessary step for future launch programs, according to a senior official in charge of the program.

The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center is the fourth such facility in China.

A satellite launched from Wenchang, which is located at a low latitude, is expected to enjoy longer service life as a result of the fuel saved by the shorter maneuver from transit orbit to geosynchronous orbit.