--- title: "China Launches 24th Batch of Satellites for Global Qianfan Network: Liftoff from Hainan and Plans to Compete with Starlink" description: "🇨🇳 China successfully launched the 24th batch of satellites for the global Qianfan network! 🚀 📅 August 16, 2026, 12:10 Beijing Time 📍 Commercial spaceport on Hainan Island ✅ All satellites reached orbit 🔧 Rocket developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology 🌐 Goal: Creating a competitor to Starlink #China #Qianfan #Space #Satellites #Starlink #Technology" date: 2026-08-17T23:24:52.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/china-launches-24th-batch-of-satellites-for-global-qianfan-network tags: [china, qianfan, space, satellites, starlink, technology] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # China Launches 24th Batch of Satellites for Global Qianfan Network: Liftoff from Hainan and Plans to Compete with Starlink ![Launch of Long March rocket carrying 24th batch of Qianfan satellites from Wenchang Spaceport on Hainan](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/17/kitaj-zapustil-24-yu-partiyu-sputnikov-qianfan/kitaj-zapustil-24-yu-partiyu-sputnikov-qianfan-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - China successfully launched the 24th batch of satellites for the Qianfan network from the Hainan spaceport. - The carrier rocket was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. - The exact number of satellites in the batch is not disclosed. - The Qianfan project aims to create a global satellite internet network. ### Successful Launch of the 24th Batch of Qianfan Satellites On August 16, 2026, at 12:10 Beijing Time, a carrier rocket successfully launched from a commercial spaceport on Hainan Island, deploying the latest, 24th batch of satellites into orbit. This launch marked a significant milestone in the implementation of China's massive project to create the Qianfan global low-orbit internet system. All satellites successfully separated from the rocket at the designated time and entered their planned orbits, confirming the high reliability of domestic technologies and the readiness of the infrastructure for regular launches. ### Technical Features of the Carrier and Development Strategy The carrier rocket used for this launch was developed by specialists at the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). The carrier is deeply optimized for delivering commercial payloads to low and sun-synchronous orbits. This allows China not only to meet its own needs for satellite communications but also to strengthen its position in the international commercial space market. Regular launches from Hainan demonstrate the country's ability to scale satellite production and deployment into space. ### Contradictory Data on the Number of Satellites Despite the successful launch, the exact number of satellites in this 24th group remains unknown. The officially published press release does not disclose data on the number of units. However, according to some sources, approximately 20 satellites were deployed into orbit in previous launches. This uncertainty may be related to the Chinese authorities' desire to maintain commercial secrecy or a change in network deployment strategy. Nevertheless, China's activity in this direction indicates intensifying competition in the space technology market and a desire to catch up with and surpass Western counterparts, such as Starlink. ### Global Ambitions and Competition The Qianfan project aims to create a global satellite internet network capable of providing stable and high-speed connectivity worldwide. This is particularly relevant for remote regions where traditional communication infrastructure is absent or underdeveloped. Chinese authorities view this project as a strategic priority capable of strengthening the country's technological sovereignty and expanding its influence in the space sector. Successful launches and the gradual deployment of the Qianfan network indicate that China is moving towards realizing its ambitious plans. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [China Successfully Launches 20 'Qianfan' Internet Satellites into Orbit](https://news.mail.ru/society/71524945/) - Источник подтверждает успешный запуск спутников Qianfan, но указывает на 20 спутников в партии. - [Qianfan (Satellite Internet)](https://www.tadviser.ru/index.php/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%82:Qianfan_%28%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%29) - Источник предоставляет общую информацию о проекте Qianfan и его целях. - [China Puts New Group of Satellites into Orbit for Starlink Competitor — Global Qianfan Network](https://www.ixbt.com/news/2026/07/06/kitaj-vyvel-na-orbitu-novuju-gruppu-sputnikov-dlja-konkurenta-starlink--globalnoj-seti-qianfan.html) - Источник подтверждает запуск спутников и их назначение для создания глобальной сети. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: When did the launch of the 24th batch of Qianfan satellites take place? **A:** The launch took place on August 16, 2026, at 12:10 Beijing Time. ### Q: From which spaceport did the rocket launch? **A:** The rocket launched from a commercial spaceport on Hainan Island. ### Q: How many satellites were launched in this batch? **A:** The exact number of satellites is not disclosed in official sources. ### Q: What is the goal of the Qianfan project? **A:** The project aims to create a global satellite internet network to provide connectivity worldwide.