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On CNSA –China National Space Administration    …. ChangZheng  Long March 8A Carrier flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China , At 21:43 Beijing time on July 5, 2026, a Long March 8A carrier rocket successfully launched 15 Qianfan polar-orbiting satellites into their predetermined orbits from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. This mission marked the 656th flight

of the Long March series carrier rockets. The Long March 8A Y9 carrier rocket used in this mission was the first to feature an upgraded second-stage engine, and its pressurization and delivery system was simultaneously upgraded to a two-configuration state, better suited to subsequent satellite transport needs.

This mission was the maiden flight of the Long March 8A rocket after significant performance upgrades, completing verification of several key technologies, including flight profile orbital energy optimization and the new engine. The rocket’s payload capacity has achieved a leap forward, with record-breaking numbers of satellites carried in a single launch and total weight into orbit. The upgraded powerful payload capacity further solidifies the technical foundation for subsequent high-density, large-payload, and batch constellation launches.

 Recent Key Updates on Launch Missions

• July 5th Mission (Qianfan Polar Orbit 15) : At 21:43, the Long March 8A Y9 carrier rocket was launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, accurately sending 20 satellites into orbit using a “one rocket, 20 satellites” method. This was the 656th flight of the Long March series rockets. During the mission, the impact of Typhoon Maysak was effectively addressed, and the mission was successfully completed after dynamic adjustments to the launch window
• July 4 mission (Qianfan Polar Orbit Group 13) : At 17:30, the Long March 6A carrier rocket was successfully launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in a “one rocket, eighteen satellites” manner. After this launch, the total number of Qianfan constellations in orbit reached 223 (including 5 experimental satellites and 218 networking satellites).
• Cross-field coordination and high-frequency rhythm : Successful launches from the north and south launch sites within two days have verified China’s mature scheduling capabilities for multi-rocket formation coordination, parallel testing in multiple locations, and high-density launches and tests in commercial spaceflight

Qianfan Constellation Network Deployment Progress and Construction Plan

The “Qianfan Constellation” (also known as G60 Starlink), built and operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., is my country’s first mega-scale low-Earth orbit commercial satellite internet constellation to enter the formal networking phase. Its construction is progressing steadily according to the following milestones:

 Key Technology Breakthroughs and Supply Chain Verification – **Leap in Launch Performance**: The Long March 8A Y9 rocket, which carried out the mission on July 5th, underwent its first upgrade to its second-stage engine, and simultaneously replaced its pressurized delivery system with a 2-configuration system. The upgrade optimized the flight profile and orbital energy, achieving new highs for both the number of rockets carried in a single launch and the total weight into orbit

**Innovation in Launch and Testing Efficiency**: Hainan Commercial Launch has established a parallel operation mode with dual vertical test stations for the Long March 8 series, increasing its annual launch and testing capacity to 30 launches; the Long March 6A rocket has simultaneously completed the modification of the second-stage propellant tank protection scheme and the optimization of the integrated external test and safety control equipment, significantly enhancing the efficiency of final assembly and testing in multiple locations..

**Mature Mass Production of Satellites**: The networking satellites were mass-produced by companies such as Gesun Aerospace and the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The breakthrough in flat-panel stacking technology from “18 satellites per rocket” to “20 satellites per rocket” proves that the flat design, thermal environment adaptability, and separation mechanism of low-Earth orbit satellites are fully mature, and the supply chain has the capability for monthly frequency delivery

🌍 Strategic Value and Commercial Prospects – **Seizing Low Earth Orbit Frequency Resources**: Low Earth orbit positions and communication frequencies follow the International Telecommunication Union’s “first-come, first-served” rule. Given that overseas constellations have already occupied a large number of high-quality orbits, the high-frequency, intensive launches of the Qianfan constellation represent a national strategic-driven resource defense effort, aiming to firmly grasp the initiative in space infrastructure.

**Filling the gaps and providing emergency support:** The constellation network will completely solve the network communication blind spots in ocean shipping, aviation internet, high-altitude deserts and marine scientific research, and provide an irreplaceable emergency information lifeline when extreme disasters cause damage to ground facilities.

 **The industry is entering a period of performance realization:** Commercial aerospace is transitioning from the “proof of concept” stage to the “order delivery and operational monetization” stage. The upstream and downstream industrial chains, including satellite assembly, core onboard components (such as TR chips and radiation-resistant RF components), rocket propulsion, and ground terminal manufacturing, are experiencing a surge in orders, and the sector’s investment logic and commercial operation are maturing simultaneously.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned SpaceCNSA-China National Space Administration

At 0746 Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time 2nd July 2026 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration   Successfully launched  Chang Zheng – Long March 4B  Carrier Rocket ignited and took off at the酒泉衛星發射中心 Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Dongfeng Aerospace City – inner Mongolia –China – People’s Republic of China, Long March 4B Successfully Launches Haiyang-2E Satellite
At 7:46 AM on July 2nd, the Long March 4B carrier rocket ignited and lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully sending the Haiyang-2E satellite into its predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success.

The Haiyang-2E satellite was developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and will be primarily used for safeguarding maritime rights, disaster prevention and mitigation, marine resource development, and marine scientific research.

The Long March 4B rocket, which carried out this launch mission, is a three-stage, room-temperature liquid-propellant carrier rocket developed by the Eighth Academy of CASC.
This launch was the 654th launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets. (
Photo: Shi Yue, Remote Sensing Satellite Department, Fifth Academy)

At 7:46 a.m. on July 2, 2026, the Long March 4B carrier rocket successfully sent the Haiyang-2E satellite into its predetermined orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This was the 654th flight of the Long March series rockets. The satellite will replace Haiyang-2B and form a network with Haiyang-2C and Haiyang-2D satellites to continuously provide high-precision marine dynamic environment data.

. Core Facts

1. Launch Overview

• Time: 07:46 on July 2, 2026
• Location: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center23
• Launch vehicle: Long March 4B (room-temperature liquid three-stage launch vehicle)3
• Satellite: Haiyang-2E satellite, developed under the overall leadership of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
•  Result: The satellite successfully entered its predetermined orbit, and the launch mission was a complete success.12
• This was the first time the rocket used a parallel fueling mode under high-temperature conditions.

2. Rocket and Satellite Parameters

3. Task Statistics

• The 118th launch of the Long March 4 series rocket
• The 654th flight of the Long March series carrier rocket
• China’s 45th space launch in 2026 (as of July 2)

II. Direct Cause

1. Replacing satellites that have exceeded their service life

The Haiyang-2E satellite will replace the Haiyang-2B satellite, which was launched in 2018 and has exceeded its orbital lifespan, to maintain the continuous and stable operation of marine dynamic environment monitoring services.

2. Networking enhances observation capabilities

• E satellite, together with the already orbiting Haiyang-2C and Haiyang-2D satellites, forms a four-satellite constellation for marine dynamic environment satellites.
• Significantly reduce the revisit cycle of global ocean data, achieving an upgrade from “occasional monitoring” to “24/7 operational operation”

3. Improve the accuracy of near-shore observations

The satellite’s payload has been upgraded to significantly enhance its observation capabilities in nearshore waters, serving areas such as safeguarding maritime rights, disaster prevention and mitigation, and resource development

Images and visuals are from their Respectives CMS China Manned Space CNSA-China National Space Administration

深蓝航天  Deep Blue Limited – Deep Blue Aerospace  Landspace One of sixty Chinese private space Carrier Rocket Companies in China-People’s Republic of China…  As many of sixty plus Private Rocket Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. was established in 2017. The company is mainly a high-tech aerospace enterprise that focuses on the direction of liquid recovery and reusable launch vehicles and provides users with commercial launch services. Deep Blue Aerospace Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province. At the same time, the company has rocket general and liquid engine R&D centers in Yizhuang, Beijing and Xi’an, Shaanxi, respectively, and a rocket power system test base in Tongchuan, Shaanxi…..

On June 29, 2026, LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 reusable Y2 launch vehicle successfully completed its static fire test at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone.

This test comprehensively verified the rocket system, launch site system, and their compatibility. All systems functioned normally, and the test data and results met expectations, verifying the correctness and coordination of the system’s operation and laying a solid foundation for subsequent flight missions. Currently, all key ground verification work before the launch of the Zhuque-3 reusable Y2 launch vehicle has been

completed. The test team will then carry out various launch preparations according to the established plan to ensure full readiness for the flight test mission.

The latest updates regarding the Zhuque-3 reusable Y2 carrier rocket (Zhuque-3 Y2) are as follows:
1. The static ignition test has been successfully completed.

• On June 29, 2026, the Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket successfully completed a static ignition test at the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone.

• The test comprehensively verified the compatibility between the rocket and the launch site systems. All systems functioned normally, and the data met expectations, verifying the correctness and coordination of the system operation.
  2. All key pre-launch ground verifications have been completed.
• This test marks the completion of all key ground verification work before rocket launch. The test team will carry out subsequent launch preparations as planned to prepare for the flight test mission.
  3. Subsequent estimated launch time
• According to previous plans, the rocket is expected to launch in early July 2026 after completing erection and static fire.
  4. Background and Objectives
• Zhuque-3 is a reusable liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicle independently developed by LandSpace, designed with the capability of vertical recovery and reuse of the first stage.
• Previously, during its maiden flight in December 2025, the second stage of the rocket successfully entered orbit, but the first stage experienced an anomaly during recovery, failing to achieve a soft landing. This Y2 mission aims to achieve China’s first successful recovery of the first stage of an orbital-class launch vehicle.
  5. Competitive Landscape
• The Zhuque-3 and Long March-10B are competing to become the first successfully recovered reusable liquid rocket

I. Key Facts: Static ignition test completed

• On June 29, 2026, LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 Y2 rocket successfully completed a static ignition test with nine rockets in parallel at the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone.
• This test comprehensively verified the rocket system, launch site system, and their compatibility. All systems functioned normally, and the test data and results met expectations.
• At this point, all key ground verification work prior to the launch of Zhuque-3 Y2 has been completed.

II. Direct cause: To conduct final ground verification for flight testing.

• The core purpose of static ignition testing is to verify the correctness and coordination of the test and control process, fuel lines, electrical interfaces, and engine ignition and shutdown under real launch conditions.
• This test is the last ground obstacle before the rocket is transferred to the launch site. Only after the test is passed can the subsequent launch preparation process, such as review in the return technology area, secondary transfer, and installation of the fairing, begin.

III. Key Background: Failure of the first flight recovery and improvements in the second flight

• On December 3, 2025, the Zhuque-3 Y1 rocket successfully entered orbit, but the first stage failed to achieve a soft landing at an altitude of about 4,000 meters above the ground in the recovery section due to an abnormality in the fuel pipeline seal and strong crosswind interference, and landed on the edge of the landing site.

• The Y2 rocket completed a technical reset to address the fault, focusing on strengthening the heat protection capabilities of the first-stage tail section and the sealing of the fuel pipeline, and optimizing the reentry control algorithm to improve landing stability.

Images and visuals are from their respectives