On May 17, the ninth batch of networking satellites for the Qianfan Constellation was successfully launched from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site.
The mission was carried out by a Long March 8 carrier rocket. The satellites entered their intended orbits smoothly and are in normal condition, marking a complete success. With this launch, the total number of Qianfan satellites in orbit has increased to 162, accelerating the global networking process.
The Qianfan Constellation, also known as the "G60 Starlink," is China's independently controllable low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet system. The project is implemented by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Co., Ltd.
According to the plan, by the end of 2030, the Qianfan Constellation will complete a network of more than 10,000 LEO broadband multimedia satellites, providing services for public communications, direct-to-cell connectivity, and wide and narrowband IoT applications.