China's flourishing space programme suffered a rare setback when a newly launched satellite failed to enter the designated orbit due to a malfunction of the rocket.

The Long March II-C rocket experienced malfunction during the flight following its launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on Thursday in northwest Gansu Province, state run Xinhua reported on Friday.

The specific cause of the failure is being analysed, it said in a brief report without elaborating on the fate of the satellite which was reportedly meant for early warning defence systems. International experts have speculated that China was due to use the satellite as part of an operational early warning defence system.

Apparently this is the first time the Long March II-C rocket, regarded as the trusted war horse of Chinese space programme has failed after 35 successful launches and only second time that China had abort a satellite since 1996 after it developed its space applications modelled on the Russian technology.

China has expanded its space programme at a rapid pace in the recent months by firing a number of satellites in the recent months including that of a communication satellite for its close ally Pakistan on August 12.

PAKSAT-1R which will provide a range of services, including broadband Internet, telecommunication and broadcasting was built and financed by China. Later it successfully launched a maritime satellite at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre on August 16.

The satellite was meant for the supervision and survey of the maritime environment, an important measure for prevention and reduction of maritime disasters, the official media said.

Besides emerging as world's third nation to put man in space after US and Russia, China has last year sent lunar probe, Chang'e-II as a prelude to its plans to send a rover to explore moon's surface followed by a manned lunar mission.