China launches third batch of 18 communication satellites

The first 18 satellites in the network were launched in August. The second group, also consisting of 18 satellites, were deployed in October. All of them were lifted by the Long March 6A model from the Taiyuan spaceport.

According to project plan, a total of 648 satellites will have been deployed in orbit before the end of 2025 to form the first version of the Spacesail Constellation network, which has been called by some observers as China's answer to SpaceX's Starlink system.

The Long March 6A rocket model was developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology as a medium-lift launch vehicle. It consists of a 50-meter, liquid-propelled core booster and four solid-fuel side boosters. The core booster has a diameter of 3.35 meters and is propelled by two 120-ton-thrust engines burning liquid oxygen and kerosene.

The rocket has a liftoff weight of 530 metric tons and is tasked with transporting satellites to multiple types of orbit, including sun-synchronous, low-Earth and intermediate circular orbit.

The mission was China's 62nd space launch this year and the 550th flight of the Long March family, the nation's main launch vehicle fleet.