China successfully placed another group of communications satellites into orbit on Saturday, advancing its ambitious plan to build a massive low-Earth orbit broadband network.

A Long March 6A rocket lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province at 5:30 p.m. local time, carrying the 13th batch of satellites for the Spacesail Constellation. The launch vehicle performed flawlessly, delivering the satellites to their predetermined orbital positions shortly after liftoff.

The satellites are funded and operated by Spacesail, a Shanghai-based state-owned satellite company. Once fully deployed, the constellation aims to deliver high-speed, secure, and reliable broadband internet services to users worldwide. Spacesail plans to eventually operate more than 15,000 satellites in low-altitude orbits, positioning the network as one of China’s two major space-based internet megaconstellations currently under development.

Saturday’s mission marked the 48th Chinese space launch of the year and the 655th flight overall for the Long March rocket family, underscoring the country’s rapid pace of space activity.

The Long March 6A, a new-generation medium-lift launch vehicle designed and built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, features a 50-meter liquid-propelled core booster paired with four solid-fuel side boosters. With a liftoff weight of 530 metric tons, the rocket is capable of delivering payloads to a variety of orbits, including sun-synchronous, low-Earth, and intermediate circular orbits.

This latest success adds momentum to China’s growing commercial and state-backed space ambitions, as the country continues to expand its orbital infrastructure for communications, Earth observation, and other applications. (ILKHA)