On the night of Sunday, May 31, China successfully launched a new test satellite into orbit, designed to test satellite internet technologies. The launch was reported by the country's central television, CCTV.
Launch details
The Long March-2D carrier rocket launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, located in the southwestern province of Sichuan. Liftoff occurred at 2:07 a.m. local time (9:07 p.m. Saturday Kyiv time). This flight marked the 646th launch for the Long March rocket series.
Mission objectives
The primary task of the new spacecraft is to conduct technical tests. The satellite will verify technologies for direct broadband connection of mobile phones to satellites, as well as integrated network technologies combining space and terrestrial environments.
Space program context
This launch is not an isolated event. Earlier, on March 10, China successfully launched another test satellite for communication technologies from the same Xichang launch site using a Long March-3B rocket.
In March of this year, China also launched 18 satellites of the "Qianfan" (Thousand Sails) internet constellation into low Earth orbit. This constellation is intended to provide commercial internet services and is positioned as a competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink network.