Hong Kong (CNN) China announced the successful launch of the Long March 5 rocket on Friday, sending a communication satellite into Earth's high orbit, according to Chinese state media CCTV.

The successful launch of the rocket on its third attempt could pave the way for more ambitious space projects such as missions to the Moon and Mars , along with a manned space station

China developed the powerful rocket, which is designed to carry 25 tons of payload into low orbit, with the aim of launching a Mars probe in 2020.

But the Long March 5 project, originally announced in 2001, suffered lengthy delays due to funding challenges and difficulties in developing new technologies for the first Chinese launcher to fully use liquid propellant.

A second test of the rocket failed in 2017, threatening to delay the country's push to become a leading space power.

A Long March 5 rocket pictured at the Wenchang space center in Hainan province on December 21.

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