Enlarge / A Long March 6A rocket successfully orbited the first 18 satellites dedicated to China’s Qianfan broadband project. (credit: VCG via Getty Images)
The Chinese government has consistently communicated its ambition to establish a satellite communication network, aiming not only to enhance connectivity within its own borders but also in countries it influences.
At present, two major initiatives are taking place within China focused on creating an alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink, which has been prohibited by Chinese authorities from operating domestically. Recently, a significant milestone was reached with the launch of the initial batch of 18 satellites for one of these domestic networks.
Early Tuesday morning at 2:42 am EDT (06:42 UTC), a Long March 6A rocket ascended from Taiyuan launch center in Shanxi province, successfully placing these spacecraft into polar orbit. The Long March 6A represents one of China’s latest innovations in rocketry and is noted for being the nation’s first model utilizing strap-on solid fuel boosters, capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 4.5 metric tons (approximately 9,900 pounds) into a Sun-synchronous orbit positioned at an altitude of around 700 kilometers (435 miles).
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