China launches new satellite group for commercial constellation

China launched a satellite group on Tuesday to form part of a commercial low-orbit network called the Spacesail Constellation.

The satellites lifted off at 7:59 p.m. Beijing Time from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province aboard a modified Long March-6 rocket. They entered their preset orbit successfully.

This mission marked the 642nd flight of the Long March carrier rocket series. The new group will help build the Spacesail Constellation, a large commercial satellite network.

The launch took place amid ongoing Chinese efforts to expand its presence in low-Earth orbit for commercial purposes.

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