On CNSA –China National Space Administration …. ChangZheng Long March 12 flight rocket …. At Hainan Commercial Space Launch Center. Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China ….At 12:10 on August 16, 2026, the Long March 12 Y8 carrier rocket successfully sent 24 satellites for the satellite internet into their predetermined orbit from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, marking another acceleration in the networking of my country’s low-Earth orbit constellation
At 12:10 PM on August 16, the Long March 12 carrier rocket ignited and lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, successfully sending 24 low-Earth orbit satellites for satellite internet into their predetermined orbits. The launch mission was a complete success.
The 24 low-Earth orbit satellites were developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). CASC’s China Commercial Rocket Company provided launch services as the general contractor. The Long March 12 rocket was developed by the Eighth Academy of CASC.
This launch was the 663rd launch of the Long March series of carrier rocket
I. Launch Mission Overview
- Launch time : 12:10 PM Beijing time on August 16, 2026.
- Launch site : Launch pad number 2 at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.4
- Payload : 24 low-Earth orbit satellites for satellite internet, developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, with launch services provided by China Commercial Launch.
- Flight record : This mission was the 663rd flight of the Long March series carrier rockets.4
II. Core Performance of the Rocket
- Rocket configuration : China’s first 3.8-meter diameter, 4-meter class single-core liquid-fueled launch vehicle, two-stage configuration, with a total length of about 62.6 meters and a takeoff weight of 430 tons.
- Carrying capacity : The carrying capacity to low Earth orbit is not less than 12 tons, and the carrying capacity to 700 km sun-synchronous orbit is not less than 6 tons.
- Launch and test mode : The “three-horizontal” mode of horizontal assembly, horizontal testing and horizontal transportation is adopted, which greatly improves launch efficiency.
III. Strategic Significance of Network Deployment
- Constellation construction : Accelerate the backbone network construction process of China’s low-Earth orbit satellite internet constellations (such as Qianfan and GW constellations) to provide support for subsequent large-scale commercial use..
- Commercial closed loop : Relying on Hainan Commercial Launch, a closed loop of the entire commercial aerospace industry chain has been completed, encompassing satellite and rocket manufacturing, commercial launch site testing and launch, and satellite data application services.