At 21:32 on April 7, a Long March-8 carrier rocket lifted off from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, sending the seventh batch of Qianfan Constellation networking satellites into the intended orbit in a "one rocket, 18 satellites" mission, marking a complete success of the launch.
Qianfan Constellation is an independently controllable low-Earth orbit satellite internet system of China, constructed and operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. Focusing on the Belt and Road Initiative and the needs of overseas Chinese-funded enterprises, the constellation provides high-speed, real-time, secure and reliable integrated space-air-ground-sea comprehensive solutions and services.
Zhang Qi, Chairman of Shanghai Yuanxin, recently revealed that the ground telemetry, tracking and control network of Qianfan Constellation has been initially completed, and preliminary global coverage is expected to be achieved within 2026.