PADSIDE
Launch SuccessfulLaunched

SatNet LEO Group 26

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation · Long March 8A · Commercial LC-1, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Loading countdown…

Open in mission controlTheater mode

Where it was visible

Night launch: visible as a bright moving light from far away if it's clear.

  • Haikou, China81 kmESE, up to 25° from T+1:00Bright moving light
  • Sanya, China212 kmENE, up to 16° from T+1:00Bright moving light

Estimates from a typical ascent toward the likely orbit. Real trajectories, cloud and haze vary; the farther away, the lower and shorter the view.

Mission

A batch of 9 Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group. The constellation will eventually consists of 13000 satellites.

Launch time (UTC)
Sep 23, 13:32 UTC
Precision
Minute
Window
Sep 23, 13:24 UTC – Sep 23, 13:49 UTC
Orbit
LEO
Mission type
Communications
Pad
Commercial LC-1

Rocket · Long March 8A

The Long March 8A is an orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology based on the Long March 8. It has an increased capability of up to 7 tonnes to a 700 km altitude sun-synchronous orbit. It implements a larger 3.35 meters diameter liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen 2nd stage, coupled with 2 upgraded version of the YF-75D engines used on the Long March 5 (known as the YF-75H) with increased thrust to 10 tonnes each through measures such as increased turbopump speeds. The Long March 8A can also use a larger 5.2 meters diameter payload fairing.

Height
50.5 m
Diameter
3.35 m
Liftoff mass
371 t
Liftoff thrust
4,800 kN
To LEO
9,800 kg
To GTO
3,500 kg
Track record
11 / 11 successful
Success streak
11
First flight
2025-02-11
Reusable
No

This is the 229th orbital launch attempt worldwide this year, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 46th launch this year, the 14th launch from Commercial LC-1.

Next launches

Full schedule →