At 12:31 a.m. on Saturday, a Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) rocket soared from a sea platform off Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province, marking another milestone in the Chinese mainland's expanding space efforts.
Managed by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, the offshore mission successfully injected the Geely-04 constellation of satellites into their planned orbit. This achievement underscores the growing momentum in space technology and satellite deployment strategies worldwide.
SD-3's successful launch and precise satellite insertion illustrate innovations in launch flexibility and reliability. With Geely-04 now orbiting Earth, the new constellation will support next-generation data collection, connectivity, and remote sensing – transforming industries from agriculture to climate monitoring.
For young global citizens, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts, this launch is more than a technical feat: it signals a shift toward more dynamic, sea-based launch capabilities. Stay tuned as these satellites begin their mission to map our planet in unprecedented detail.
Reference(s):
Smart Dragon-3 rocket launches Geely-04 satellites from Shandong coast
cgtn.com