🚀 On Friday at 7 a.m. Beijing Time, the Chinese mainland’s Long March-12 rocket roared to life from Hainan Province, carrying the 16th batch of low-Earth orbit internet satellites into space. This mission is all about building a super-fast, space-based network—no cables required!
So, what makes the Long March-12 a star? Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, it can haul at least 12 tonnes of payload into orbit. Even cooler, its assembly and testing happen horizontally—think of it like a sleek sports car rolling off the production line. This setup slashes prep time and lets the team launch satellites at a high frequency, perfect for a mega constellation.
This was the rocket’s fourth flight and the 616th launch for the entire Long March family. For comparison, that’s more launches than your favorite sci-fi marathon! The team even managed to trim weight and streamline operations, making each mission smoother than the last.
Looking ahead, the Long March-12 is slated for many more LEO launches over the next five years. That’s a lot of connections coming your way—imagine checking your feed from the middle of the Andes or sending a video from a remote beach with zero lag! 🌐✨
Stay tuned: the future of internet from space is just beginning, and it’s lifting off faster than ever.
Reference(s):
China launches internet satellites on efficient Long March-12 rocket
cgtn.com
