DONGFENG COMMERCIAL SPACE INNOVATION TEST ZONE — The Long March 12B rocket launched at 4:40 p.m. local time (4:40 a.m. EDT) on June 1 from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone in Inner Mongolia. The rocket successfully carried the 10th batch of China's Qianfan, or 'Thousand Sails,' satellites into low Earth orbit.
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) announced the launch after it had already occurred. No apparent international airspace or maritime notices were issued prior to the launch. Such notices are standard global safety procedures for rocket launches, intended to warn aircraft and vessels of potential hazards like falling debris.
The Long March 12B is a reusable, commercial rocket designed to support China's internet satellite missions. It has a low Earth orbit payload capacity of about 22 metric tonnes. The June 1 mission did not include a recovery test, though CASIC plans a first-stage recovery test for a later date.
This launch marked the latest step in China's effort to build a megaconstellation of internet service satellites under the Qianfan, or 'Thousand Sails,' program. The initiative aims to provide global broadband coverage and is seen as a counterpart to SpaceX's Starlink network. The Long March 12B serves as a more powerful follow-on to the Long March 12A rocket, which flew the previous year.
Astronomical authorities have raised concerns about the Qianfan satellites, noting that their brightness exceeds recommended limits for objects in low Earth orbit. The excessive brightness poses challenges for ground-based astronomical observations and night sky studies.
China has now launched ten batches of Qianfan satellites as part of its plan to deploy a large-scale broadband constellation. According to CASIC, the Qianfan program is intended to offer satellite-based internet services globally.