China successfully launched a group of internet satellites into orbit on the morning of December 26, 2025. This event was reported by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the primary State-owned space contractor.
The satellites represent the 17th group of low-orbit hardware within China’s State-owned internet network. They were lifted by a Long March 8A carrier rocket at 7:26 AM from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center in Wenchang city, quickly reaching their orbital positions.
Designed and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of CASC in Beijing, these satellites add to China’s growing mega internet satellite network, which now includes over 130 operational satellites in low orbits following this deployment.
The Long March 8A, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, is 50.5 meters tall, with a liftoff weight of 371 metric tons and a liftoff thrust of approximately 480 tons. This model is primarily used to deploy satellites to sun-synchronous orbits, capable of carrying up to 7 metric tons of payloads to a typical sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers.
This launch marked the 90th space mission for China and the 620th flight of the Long March rocket fleet, as well as the sixth use of the Long March 8A model for deploying low-orbit internet satellites.
—
