Early Wednesday, a significant milestone unfolded in the Chinese mainland's space sector as 18 low Earth orbit satellites lifted off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. Aboard the Long March-8 Y6 carrier rocket, the satellites successfully reached their intended orbit, marking the fifth group of its kind and paving the way for the commercial internet constellation, Spacesail.
This mission is particularly notable as it represents the inaugural launch from the site's No. 1 launch pad. Standing 83 meters tall and featuring a modular steel structure with a dual-direction flame deflection cone, the pad incorporates advanced cooling and noise reduction techniques to support rapid reuse. With capabilities now enabling a seven-day launch and reset cycle, the launch site is well-prepared to meet surging demands in the commercial space landscape.
The Long March-8 rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the supervision of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is engineered for cost-effective multi-satellite deployments to both low- and medium-Earth orbits. This mission also marks the 563rd flight of the Long March rocket family, underscoring its enduring role as a pillar of the country's space transport system.
As the phase II construction advances, the Hainan commercial spaceport is poised to further boost innovative satellite missions, fueling the growing momentum of commercial internet and space technology initiatives on the global stage.
Reference(s):
China launches 18 satellites from Hainan commercial launch site
cgtn.com