China resumes launches after one-month pause
Posted: Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 8:28 AM ET (1228 GMT)
China conducted a pair of launches hours apart Thursday. A Long March 8A lifted off at 3:48 pm EDT (1948 GMT) from the commercial spaceport on Hainan carrying the 20th set of Guowang broadband constellation satellites. Officials did not disclose the number of satellites on the launch, but previous Long March 8A launches for Guowang carried nine satellites each. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 6:33 pm EDT (2233 GMT) and placed into orbit the Shiyan-30 03 and 04 spacecraft. Official media said the satellites will be used to test Earth observation technologies. The launches were the first in a month from China after a break for the Chinese New Year holiday.
China conducted a pair of launches hours apart Thursday. A Long March 8A lifted off at 3:48 pm EDT (1948 GMT) from the commercial spaceport on Hainan carrying the 20th set of Guowang broadband constellation satellites. Officials did not disclose the number of satellites on the launch, but previous Long March 8A launches for Guowang carried nine satellites each. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 6:33 pm EDT (2233 GMT) and placed into orbit the Shiyan-30 03 and 04 spacecraft. Official media said the satellites will be used to test Earth observation technologies. The launches were the first in a month from China after a break for the Chinese New Year holiday.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, April 5
Rep. Whitesides Condemns the President’s Anti-Science Budget Proposal
US House of Representatives — 11:10 am ET (1510 GMT) AIA Celebrates Historic Artemis II Launch, Highlights Industry’s Role in America’s Return to the Moon
AIA — 11:08 am ET (1508 GMT) AIA Responds to President’s Budget: Strong Support for Defense, More Needed for Space and Innovation
AIA — 11:08 am ET (1508 GMT) United Launch Alliance Advances Amazon Leo Constellation with Successful Leo 5 Launch
United Launch Alliance — 11:06 am ET (1506 GMT) KBR’s Mission Technology Solutions Supports NASA’s Artemis II Mission as Astronauts Embark on Historic Return to the Moon
GlobeNewswire — 11:05 am ET (1505 GMT) |
