JIUQUAN, Gansu, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's experimental orbiter SJ-11-04, which was launched by a Long March II-C rocket Thursday, failed to enter the designated orbit due to a malfunction of the rocket.

The rocket experienced malfunction during the flight following its launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 5:28 p.m. Beijing Time in northwest Gansu Province.

The specific cause of the failure is being analyzed.