Under the starry sky of northern Shanxi Province, the Chinese mainland made a bold leap towards a more connected future on Sunday. At 10:15 p.m., a modified Long March-6 rocket rose from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, carrying the ninth group of low Earth orbit satellites designed to form an expansive internet constellation.
Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, this agile carrier rocket is built to handle a range of mission profiles—from single deployments to complex stacked, wall-mounted and piggyback configurations. With every launch, engineers push the boundaries of satellite deployment, speeding slots and optimizing orbital insertion to meet diverse global needs.
This mission marks the 590th flight of the Long March series, underscoring decades of sustained innovation. As these new satellites settle into their preset orbits, they join an emerging network that promises to boost digital access, bridge connectivity gaps and power everything from remote education to smart agriculture.
For tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and digital nomads, this latest batch signals more than a single launch. It represents a milestone in the race to extend high-speed internet across continents and oceans—a vision that’s reshaping how we learn, work and explore our planet.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
