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On CNSA –China National Space Administration    …. ChangZheng  Long March 8 Carrier flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China At 0348 Beijing time  At 22:42 Beijing time on May 17, 2026, China successfully launched the 9th batch (x18) of the Qianfan constellation from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site using a Long March-8 carrier rocket. This launch was the 113th space launch globally in 2026, China’s 31st (5th this month), the 13th by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), and the 2nd by the Long March-8 rocket.

🚀 Key details of the launch mission

• Time and location : At 22:42 on May 17, 2026, the mission was successfully carried out at Launch Pad 1 of the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.
• Launch vehicle : The Long March 8 Y8 carrier rocket will be used to launch eighteen satellites in a high-density mode.
• Payload status : All network satellites have successfully entered their designated orbits and are in normal condition, and the mission has been a complete success.
• Milestone data : This flight marks the 643rd launch of the Long March series carrier rockets and the second launch mission of the Long March 8 rocket in 2026.

🛰️ Two launches in five days, network deployment pace accelerated across the board.

• The number of satellites in orbit has increased dramatically : With the successful launch of the ninth batch of satellites, the total number of satellites in orbit in the Qianfan constellation has officially climbed to 162.627
• High-frequency launch test : Just five days before this launch (May 12), China successfully launched the “Qianfan Polar Orbit 09” satellite group from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. Conducting two large-scale satellite launches within five days not only puts pressure on the satellite development team and its tracking, telemetry, and command capabilities, but also directly demonstrates China’s mature industrial capabilities in the mass production of satellites and rapid response rocket launches.6
• Routine Operations : The frequent launches indicate that China’s commercial space industry is moving from single-launch technology to a new stage of large-scale industrial operations.

🌍 Strategic Blueprint and Industrial Applications

• Operating entity and planning : The Qianfan constellation (also known as “G60 Starlink”) is led by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., and is ultimately planned to deploy more than 15,000 low-orbit broadband communication satellites.
• The three-step strategy :
  • Phase 1 : Deploy 648 satellites to achieve regional coverage;
  • Phase II : Expanding to 1296 satellites, moving towards global coverage;
  • Phase III : Providing ultra-large-scale services that integrate diverse businesses.
• Securing frequency and orbit resources : Low Earth orbit and communication frequencies follow the international rule of “first come, first served.” The accelerated networking of the Qianfan constellation directly helps China seize the initiative in limited space resources and break the monopoly of overseas low Earth orbit communication constellations.
• Application scenarios : Qianfan Constellation focuses on filling communication gaps in scenarios such as ocean shipping, aviation internet, remote mountainous areas and emergency disaster relief, and provides high-speed, low-latency integrated broadband services for air, land, sea and air, with a focus on the needs of Chinese enterprises going global along the “Belt and Road”.

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

On CNSA –China National Space Administration Shenzhou23 – Shenzhou-23 Spacecraft and Rocket Assembly Transferred to Launch Area, Launch Scheduled for Soon] According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, on May 16, 2026 (Beijing time), the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and the Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket assembly were transferred to the launch area.

Shenzhou-23 Spacecraft and Rocket Assembly Completed Vertical Transfer, Launch Scheduled for Approximately 22:00 on May 24] According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, on May 16, 2026 (Beijing time), the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and the Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket assembly were successfully transferred to the launch area.

Currently, the launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition. Subsequent pre-launch functional checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned, with launch scheduled for the near future[Long March 2F Y23 Carrier Rocket Begins Vertical Transfer] This morning, at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and the Long March 2F Y23 carrier rocket assembly began its transfer to the launch area. According to the mission schedule, the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft will be launched soon.

 

. Latest Developments: The combined spacecraft has been transported to the launch area, and the launch window is approaching.

According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, on May 16, 2026 (Beijing time), the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft and the Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket combination were vertically transferred from the technical area to the launch area. The weather at the transfer site was clear with a wind force of 2-3, providing ideal operating conditions. The combination, supported by the mobile launch platform, moved smoothly along a 1.5-kilometer seamless steel rail, and the entire transfer process was successful. Currently, the launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition. Subsequent pre-launch functional checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned, with launch scheduled for the coming days. Based on information from multiple sources, the launch window is expected to be around May 24

II. Core Breakthrough of the Mission: First On-Orbit Stay Experiment Exceeding One Year

The most anticipated breakthrough of this mission is that one astronaut on the Shenzhou-23 crew will conduct a long-term on-orbit stay experiment exceeding one year . This will break the record for the longest single flight by a Chinese astronaut (previously held by Shenzhou-20 at 270 days), aiming to verify the human body’s adaptability to the extreme space environment and accumulate crucial medical data for future manned lunar landings and deep space exploration. This arrangement also connects with subsequent missions: Shenzhou-24 will carry a Pakistani astronaut for a short stay (approximately one week). Due to spacecraft capacity limitations, a Chinese astronaut will be needed for rotation and handover in orbit, creating a time difference in the stay duration

 

III. International Cooperation and Crew Suspense: Bauhinia Flower Elements Spark Heated Discussion

The Shenzhou-23 mission logo was officially released on May 11, featuring the Bauhinia flower for the first time . As the official flower of Hong Kong, the Bauhinia has sparked widespread speculation: does this mean the first payload specialist from Hong Kong will be selected for this flight crew? Some analysts suggest that astronauts from Hong Kong and Macau could potentially undertake a space station mission as early as 2026. Furthermore, the mission will support the first short-term stay of foreign astronauts (a payload specialist from Pakistan) on the Chinese space station, promoting the international application of the space station. The official final astronaut list has not yet been released; information circulating online (such as combinations like Wang Yaping and Tang Hongbo) has not been officially confirmed and should be based on the official announcement from the engineering office

 

IV. Technical Support: Tianzhou-10 has arrived in advance and is fully equipped with supplies.

The Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft was successfully launched on May 11, delivering nearly 6.3 tons of supplies to the Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-24 crews. The supplies included over 220 items of cargo and 700 kg of propellant, encompassing over 100 types of food (including fresh fruits and vegetables, steak, etc.), a third new extravehicular activity (EVA) suit (achieving a complete upgrade of the space station’s EVA suits), a new space treadmill, and six scientific experimental payloads (weighing approximately 280 kg in total), covering cutting-edge fields such as microgravity fluid physics. Tianzhou-10 will remain docked at the space station for 12 months, breaking the previous record of 9-10 months

V. Technical Highlights: “Three-Vertical Mode” and Rolling Backup Mechanism

This mission continued the mature technological system of China’s aerospace industry. The nearly 60-meter-tall, 40-ton spacecraft-rocket combination adopted a “three-vertical mode” of vertical assembly, vertical testing, and vertical transportation , maintaining an upright position throughout the process, effectively ensuring the consistency of the rocket’s condition and reducing pre-launch risks. Meanwhile, the Long March 2F rocket implemented a rolling backup principle of “one for each”—the Shenzhou-24 spacecraft-rocket combination had completed assembly and testing simultaneously and was on standby in the factory, ready to respond within 8.5 days in an emergency, ensuring the safety of the astronauts.

 

VI. Mission Identifier: The Fusion of Tradition and Technology

The Shenzhou-23 mission logo adopts a circular design, incorporating the core scene of the spacecraft docking with the space station, three five-pointed stars (corresponding to the three astronauts), golden auspicious clouds, ruyi patterns, and Dunhuang “flying apsaras” ribbons, among other Chinese cultural symbols, with technological blue and Chinese red as the main colors. This logo originated from a public design contest and was selected and optimized from over 500 submissions.

VII. Panoramic View of Manned Spaceflight in 2026

In 2026, China’s manned space program plans to carry out two manned flight missions (Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-24) and one cargo spacecraft resupply mission (Tianzhou-10 has already been completed). In addition, the new-generation manned spacecraft “Mengzhou” is scheduled to make its maiden flight, and the development of manned lunar exploration products such as the Long March-10 carrier rocket and the Lunar Lander is progressing steadily, aiming to achieve the goal of China’s first lunar landing before 2030

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

Beijing Zhongke Aerospace Exploration Technology Co., Ltd. is the first domestic aerospace enterprise with mixed ownership, and it is also the target enterprise that Oriental Aerospace Port focuses on introducing. Relying on the scientific research strength and resource advantages of the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Aerospace Flight Technology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Aerospace Science and Technology has been committed to the research and development and integration of space technology and aerospace vehicles as a platform for the transformation of major national scientific research projects, as well as the transformation and provision of technological achievements. Aerospace launch service. The Lijian-1 rocket project also adds a brand-new name card to the Oriental Space Port, which will surely promote the construction of the Oriental Space Port to take a solid step forward.

China, People’s Republic of China.  Successfully Launches 5 Satellites in One Launch  At 12:33 PM Beijing time  on May 15, 2026, the Zhongke Aerospace Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket carrying the “Youxi” satellite was launched from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone. Using a “one rocket, five satellites” approach, it accurately sent five satellites, including the “Youxi” satellite, into their predetermined orbits. The launch mission was a complete success.

This mission marked the 13th flight of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket and the 14th launch of the Lijian series of carrier rockets. To date, a total of 100 satellites have been successfully sent into space, with a total payload mass exceeding 18 tons. China maintains its leading market share in the commercial rocket launch service market.

Carrier Rockets Achieve Milestone of 100 Satellite Launches] At 12:33 PM Beijing time on May 15, 2026, China successfully launched five satellites—Taijing-3 05A/05B, Tianyi-50, Tianyan-27, and Jilin-1 Gaofen-03D55—using the LiJian-1 Y13 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone. The satellites successfully entered their predetermined orbits, and the launch mission was a complete success. This mission marked the 13th flight of the LiJian-1 carrier rocket.

The Lijian 1  Y13 carrier rocket has completed final assembly and testing and successfully passed factory acceptance. It is scheduled to launch five satellites in one launch from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone in the near future . Among the satellites carried by the rocket is “Dianjian-1,” China’s first dedicated energy engineering satellite, which will be used to monitor millimeter-level displacements in hydropower projects, enhancing the full-lifecycle safety management capabilities of energy infrastructure. This mission signifies that the CAS Aerospace Industrialization Base has achieved pulsed, high-efficiency production capabilities, and its mass production and rapid delivery capabilities for rockets are continuously improving

. Latest Mission Progress and Launch Plan

• The Lijian 1
  Lijian 1 yao13 rocket, which is in its final assembly and testing phase at the CAS Space Industrialization Base, has successfully passed the factory acceptance review and is now ready for launch.
• Launch mission details
  • Time and location : The launch is planned for the near future at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone in Ejin Banner, Inner Mongolia
  • Mission Mode : The mission will employ a “one rocket, five satellites” approach, sending five satellites into their designated orbits. The first dedicated energy engineering satellite, “Dianjian-1,” will be launched as one of the payloads. Weighing approximately 300 kg, this satellite is equipped with an X-band synthetic aperture radar capable of monitoring millimeter-level displacements of the Earth’s surface and energy infrastructure.

II. Rocket Technology Characteristics and Innovative Breakthroughs

• The launch efficiency advantage
  continues the “three horizontal and one vertical” (horizontal assembly, horizontal testing, horizontal transportation, and rapid docking and erection) launch mode of the Liji series. Technical factory preparation takes only 7 days, and it can be launched within 5 hours after transportation, with hourly emergency response capability.
• Cost and capacity optimization
  • Low cost : Through optimized design, launch costs have been reduced to approximately 60,000 yuan per kilogram, significantly lowering the barrier for small and medium-sized satellites to enter space.2
  • High production capacity : Relying on the pulsed production line, the rocket assembly cycle is shortened to 1 month, with an annual production capacity of over 10 rockets, which can be increased to 30 rockets in the future..
• The reliability verification
  mission, the 13th flight mission of the Lijian-1 series, demonstrated the rocket’s high reliability and strong performance capability, with a 100% success rate in the previous 12 missions, which have sent a total of 92 satellites into space with a total mass of over 12 tons into orbit.

III. Industrial and Strategic Significance

• This mission marks the achievement
  of CAS Space’s independent production of rocket modules throughout the entire process, with production capacity continuously ramping up, propelling China’s commercial space industry towards high-density, scheduled launches.36
• With enhanced international competitiveness,
  the Lijian-1 rocket has secured satellite launch orders from multiple countries (such as Mexico and the Middle East). Its low cost and rapid response capabilities have solidified China’s global position in the small and medium-sized satellite launch market. Future plans include expanding its maritime launch capabilities to accommodate more orbital requirements.

Images and visuals are from their respectives

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…..

Zhuque-2 Improved Y5 Launch a Complete Success – LandSpace’s Zhuque-2 Improved Y5 Launch Vehicle Successfully Launched] At 11:00 AM Beijing time on May 13, 2026, the Zhuque-2 Improved Y5 launch vehicle (ZQ-2E Y5) was successfully launched from LandSpace’s liquid oxygen-methane launch pad in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone ,Inner Mongolia, China, People’s Republic of China. . The launch successfully completed all flight procedures.

The ZQ-2E Y5 is a two-stage cryogenic extended liquid-fueled launch vehicle developed through systematic iterative design, fully inheriting the mature technologies of previous launches. This mission reached an orbital altitude of 900 kilometers and carried a 2.8-ton customized experimental payload for large-scale satellite constellation deployment. This signifies that the ZQ-2E model has achieved breakthroughs in heavy payload launch capabilities, possessing the engineering conditions to undertake multi-satellite launch missions. It provides mature and reliable launch capability support for implementing the goals of building a new pillar industry of “aerospace” and accelerating the development of “satellite internet” as outlined in this year’s Government Work Report, as well as for subsequent large-scale satellite constellation deployment projects.

The ZQ-2E Y5 rocket has a diameter of 3.35 meters, a maximum fairing diameter of 4.2 meters, and a total length of approximately 55.9 meters. Its liftoff mass is 267 tons (excluding payload), and its liftoff thrust is 338 tons. The first stage uses four TQ-12A liquid oxygen-methane engines in parallel, each with a sea-level thrust of 828 kN, with each engine’s thrust increased by 108 kN and a new thrust self-correction function added. The second stage uses TQ-15A liquid oxygen-methane engines with a vacuum thrust of 858 kN. The ZQ-2E Y5 primarily utilizes techniques such as lengthening the first stage, increasing propellant loading, reducing structural weight, and increasing the thrust of the first-stage engines to further release and optimize the rocket’s carrying capacity, significantly improving its overall performance and enhancing its launch service capabilities for a multi-orbit mission spectrum.

The allure of spaceflight lies not only in its technological sophistication but also in the social value it embodies. During mission preparation, LandSpace specially invited teachers and students from Huanggu Experimental School in Pinghu City to the launch site to observe rocket operations and interact with Qiu Jingyu, the chief designer of the ZQ-2E model. Today, the teachers and students also watched the rocket launch with engineers at LandSpace’s Jiaxing base. Since 1992, teacher Yao Aiying from the school has led students to send letters and donate money to support the aerospace industry, proposing the slogan “Don’t chase pop stars, chase science stars,” continuously sowing the seeds of aerospace dreams for 34 years. In the countdown to launch, this cross-generational support and encouragement quietly took root in the hearts of a generation of young people.

The ZQ-2E Y5 is the maiden flight product of the improved and extended version of the Zhuque-2. This model has achieved a payload capacity of 4 tons to a 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit and 6 tons to a low Earth orbit, making it one of the leading models in terms of payload capacity among currently operational medium-sized liquid-propellant launch vehicles in China’s commercial aerospace sector. It can flexibly adapt to diverse mission requirements such as launching multiple satellites with a single rocket and deploying large-capacity payloads. It can also form a combined launch service solution with the ZQ-3 reusable launch vehicle, enhancing China’s ability to ensure large-capacity, low-cost, and high-frequency access to space .

【Zhuque-2 What Evolutions Have Been Made?】The improved Zhuque-2 Y5 carrier rocket (ZQ-2E Y5) features a lengthened first-stage propellant tank combined with fully supercooled fueling technology, increasing propellant capacity by approximately 15%. Simultaneously, weight reduction measures such as eliminating part of the first-stage tank’s insulation layer, optimizing the cable array layout, and removing the first-stage tail fins have achieved systematic structural weight reduction, reflecting the systems engineering thinking in the rocket’s overall design.

In domestic private space missions, the ZQ-2E Y5 pioneered a second-stage, three-ignition “tank pressure ignition + high-orbit deorbiting” technical solution. Utilizing engine tank pressure ignition and the passivation force of the final stage, it achieves rapid high-orbit deorbiting, effectively solving the traditional high-orbit deorbiting problem while ensuring ignition reliability. This responds to national requirements for rocket final-stage deorbiting and space debris mitigation, protecting valuable space orbit resources.

The ZQ-2E Y5 rocket pioneered online engine fault diagnosis and self-correction technology in its first stage and applied a propellant utilization system for the first time in its second stage. This system can automatically diagnose and respond to conditions such as low engine thrust and excessive mixture ratios during flight, significantly improving flight reliability and launch service capabilities, and propelling launch vehicles steadily towards becoming “smart rockets.”

Based on mature mission process design experience, this mission achieved a breakthrough in rapid launch capability with a test and launch cycle of 13 days and a pre-launch propellant loading process of 1.5 hours, fully preparing the ZQ-2E and ZQ-3 launch vehicles for high-frequency missions.

Images and visuals are from their Respectives.

At 1959 Hours Hong Kong SAR- Beijing Time9 12 May 2026 , China- People’s Republic of China- CNSA –China National Space Administration   Successfully launched  Chang Zheng – Long March 6A yao 23 Carrier Rocket ignited and took off at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center Shanxi Province at 19:59 on May 12, the Long March 6A carrier rocket ignited and lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, subsequently sending the Qianfan polar-orbiting 09 group of satellites into their predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success. The
Long March 6A rocket, developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation , is China’s first solid-liquid coupled launch vehicle, capable of launching single, dual, triple, stacked, and wall-mounted satellites …

successfully sending the Qianfan Polar Orbit 09 satellite group into its predetermined orbit. The launch mission was a complete success. The
Long March 6A rocket, developed by the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is China’s first solid-liquid coupled launch vehicle.
The launch services for the Qianfan Polar Orbit 09 satellite group were provided by Great Wall Industry Corporation, a subsidiary of CASC.
This launch was the 642nd launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets.

🚀 Mission Core Overview and Milestones

At 19:59 Beijing time on May 12, 2026, my country successfully launched the Qianfan Polar Orbit 09 satellite constellation into its predetermined orbit using a Long March-6A (Long March-6A) carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, employing a high-density deployment of 18 satellites in a single launch. This launch mission not only achieved complete success but also set several new and important records:

• Flight 642 : This is the 642nd flight mission of China’s Long March series carrier rockets
•  
• The number of satellites in orbit has increased dramatically : With the successful entry of the 09 group of satellites into orbit, the total number of satellites in orbit of the Qianfan constellation has officially increased to 144, and the ability to provide communication services across the entire domain has been substantially improved.

🌌 Constellation Network Blueprint and the Strategic Value of Polar Orbit

The G60 Starlink constellation is a domestically developed and controllable low-Earth orbit broadband internet constellation led by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., with a planned deployment of over 15,000 satellites. The successful launch of the 09 group of satellites further promotes the implementation of its “three-step” strategy

Filling the polar blind spots : The polar-orbiting satellite launched this time is mainly for signal coverage in high latitudes, the North and South Poles and remote areas, effectively filling the communication blind spots of traditional terrestrial networks in polar and high-latitude regions.

• Initial global coverage within the year : According to the plan, the Qianfan constellation is expected to achieve initial global coverage by 2026 (requiring at least 324 satellites), which means that multiple rounds of high-density launches will be carried out this year.
• Application scenarios : This constellation will be widely used in ocean shipping, aviation connectivity, emergency rescue and disaster relief, and other fields, providing high-speed and secure integrated air-space-ground network services for countries along the “Belt and Road” and Chinese-funded enterprises going global.

🛠️ The main rocket and technological highlights of the “Long March 6 Amplified”

The core force supporting this mission is the Long March 6A carrier rocket, which is currently in a period of high-density launches. Its technical characteristics perfectly meet the needs of large-scale commercial spaceflight deployment.

• The first solid-liquid coupled rocket : The Long March 6A is China’s first launch vehicle to adopt solid-liquid coupled technology. It has a payload capacity of no less than 4.5 tons at a sun-synchronous orbit of 700 kilometers and no less than 6.5 tons at an altitude of 500 kilometers.
• Flexible payload adaptation : The rocket supports various launch methods such as single satellite, multi-satellite tandem, stacking, and wall mounting, providing ample technical redundancy and capacity guarantee for the efficient deployment of “one rocket, multiple satellites”.
• Cost reduction and efficiency improvement : Relying on task-oriented design and mass production optimization, the Long March 6A rocket has significantly reduced the cost of a single launch, becoming the main model to promote the large-scale construction of low-orbit satellite internet.

🌍 Public attention and industry chain resonance

This launch was not only a technical success, but also generated widespread repercussions at the social and industrial levels:

• A dreamlike “rocket cloud” went viral : Because the launch occurred at dusk, the rocket’s contrail condensed into ice crystals in the low-temperature environment at high altitude, and was illuminated by the afterglow of the setting sun, creating a rare “twilight effect” in many places including Henan, Hubei, Shanxi, Guangdong, and Hainan, prompting netizens to take photos and check in with admiration.16twenty two
• The industrial ecosystem is being restructured at an accelerated pace : the dense networking of the Qianfan constellation has directly boosted orders for upstream satellite manufacturing, core components, and ground terminal equipment, propelling China’s commercial aerospace industry from technology verification to large-scale, routine operation..
  Overall, the successful launch of the Qianfan Polar Orbit 09 satellite constellation marks another solid step forward in my country’s independent construction of a global low-Earth orbit satellite internet network. With the continued advancement of subsequent networking missions, the Chinese version of “Starlink” will gradually break the overseas monopoly, providing strong underlying support for the digital economy and global communications.

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