China has placed another set of internet satellites into orbit, advancing its plans for a global low-Earth orbit communications network. The mission contractor, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), confirmed the launch took place at 8:40 pm Saturday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.
The satellites represent the 11th group in China's State-owned internet network, a system often compared to SpaceX's Starlink. Seven of the batches have been deployed in just the past two months as the constellation rapidly takes shape. Once completed, it will feature about 13,000 satellites to deliver worldwide broadband connectivity.
The launch employed a Long March 6A carrier rocket, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a CASC subsidiary. The 50-meter vehicle features a liquid-propelled core booster with two 120-ton-thrust engines and four solid-fuel side boosters. At liftoff, the rocket weighs 530 metric tons and is capable of placing more than 4.5 tons into a sun-synchronous orbit 700 kilometers above Earth.
This was the fourth time the Long March 6A has been used for the internet constellation program. The flight also marked China's 59th orbital launch of 2025 and the 597th overall mission of the Long March rocket family.
