Early Wednesday, a major milestone was reached as 18 low Earth orbit satellites were launched aboard the Long March-8 Y6 carrier rocket from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. This mission, the fifth of its kind, marks the launch of China's commercial internet constellation Spacesail. The debut from the site’s newly inaugurated No. 1 launch pad — standing 83 meters tall and featuring an innovative modular steel design with a dual-direction flame deflection cone for cooling and noise reduction — highlights rapid reuse capabilities with a seven-day launch and reset cycle. 🚀 Since its first successful mission in November 2024, the Hainan site is quickly ramping up by moving into its phase II project, perfectly poised to meet surging launch demands. This achievement also celebrates the 563rd flight of the esteemed Long March rocket family, a pillar in China's space transport system. In true pop culture style—imagine a Marvel-level moment for space exploration—this cutting-edge launch brings fresh energy to global space ambitions and inspires both tech enthusiasts and young innovators around the world.
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China launches 18 satellites from Hainan commercial launch site
cgtn.com
