Posted: Sat, Jan 25, 2025, 10:14 AM ET (1514 GMT)
China launched another batch of megaconstellation satellites Thursday. A Long March 6A lifted off sat 12:11 am EST (0511 GMT) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center and placed into orbit 18 satellites for the Qianfan, or Thousand Sails, constellation. There are now 72 satellites in orbit for a constellation intended to ultimately reach 14,000 satellites. This was the tenth launch of a Long March 6A since its introduction in 2022, and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation says it it planning to conduct more than 10 launches of the rocket this year.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  Xinhua article