Tag: China
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What Are the “National Team” Forces in China’s Satellite Laser Communication Field?
Satellite laser communication is a communication technology that uses laser light as an information carrier and free space as a transmission channel to establish high-speed data links between satellites, or between satellites and the ground. Compared to traditional microwave communication, laser communication boasts significant advantages—such as large bandwidth, high transmission rates, strong anti-interference capabilities, and…
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China’s Smart Dragon-3 rocket successfully launches 2 satellites from sea
HAIYANG, Shandong, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) — A carrier rocket launched from waters off east China’s Shandong Province Wednesday has sent two hyperspectral satellites into orbit, which are expected to support high-precision observation in China and large-scale monitoring of land and sea worldwide. The Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) carrier rocket blasted off at 10:38 a.m. (Beijing Time)…
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China Commercial Space Monthly — July 2026: China’s Commercial Space Sector Enters a Phase of Scaled Capability Building
Key Assessments This Month China’s commercial space sector is entering a phase of building capabilities at scale. Several commercial launch companies are advancing the development and testing of reusable rockets and rocket engines. The focus of industry competition will shift from “whether a company can succeed” to “whether it can operate reliably, efficiently, and at…
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Chinese Long March-8A rocket launches new internet satellite group
China sent a new batch of internet satellites into orbit Tuesday from a commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. A Long March-8A carrier rocket, carrying the 23rd group of the low-orbit internet constellation, blasts off from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in Wenchang, south China’s Hainan Province, Aug. 4,…
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From Spectral Fingerprints to Target Prioritization: How Hyperspectral Satellites Support Mineral Exploration
According to the International Energy Agency’s Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026, global critical mineral exploration spending fell by more than 10% in 2025. Exploration spending on lithium and nickel declined by around 45%, while spending on copper remained broadly stable. This increasingly cautious investment environment stands in contrast to the persistent long-term pressure on critical…
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China’s Commercial Space Sector: 2026 Mid-Year Review
China maintained a high launch cadence in the first half of 2026, while its commercial space sector built on the growth momentum of 2025 and continued to strengthen its industrial fundamentals. By the end of June, China had conducted 44 space launches and placed a total of 223 satellites into their designated orbits. The commercial…
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China launches Communication Technology Test Satellite-27A/B aboard modified Long March-6 rocket
China successfully launched the Communication Technology Test Satellite-27A/B into orbit at 9:00 a.m. (Beijing Time) on July 30, 2026, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province. The satellites were launched aboard a modified Long March-6 carrier rocket and entered their planned orbits successfully, marking the successful completion of the mission. The…
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China launches Tianlian III-01 data relay satellite aboard Long March-7A rocket
China sent a new data relay satellite into orbit on July 29, 2026, from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan. The Tianlian III-01 satellite was launched at 7:50 p.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-7A carrier rocket. The satellite entered the preset orbit successfully. Tianlian III-01…
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Classified NRO Payload and Chinese Triple-Header Fill a Busy Launch Week
The week opens with a concentrated block of Chinese activity on July 29, followed by the NRO mission on July 30. Two of the three Chinese launches carry undisclosed payloads, and the NRO flight is classified, leaving much of the week’s activity opaque as to purpose. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation plans to…
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China launches Tianlian II-06 data relay satellite
China successfully sent a new data relay satellite into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on July 23, 2026. The Tianlian II-06 satellite was launched at 8 p.m. (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket and entered its planned orbit. Tianlian II-06 is primarily used to provide data…