China launches long march 12 rocket, deploys satellites for expanding space network

China successfully launched a Long March 12 carrier rocket on Monday afternoon, deploying a new group of internet satellites into orbit, according to GalaxySpace, the Beijing-based company responsible for building the satellites.

The satellites represent the 19th batch of low-orbit hardware in China's national space-based internet network. The rocket lifted off at 3:48 pm from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan province, and the satellites soon reached their intended orbit, GalaxySpace announced.

Equipped with advanced phased array, millimeter-wave antenna, and integrated electronics, the satellites contribute to China's growing space internet system, often compared to SpaceX's Starlink. With this latest deployment, the system now boasts over 150 satellites in low orbit. Upon completion, the Chinese mega-constellation will comprise approximately 13,000 satellites to provide global internet coverage.

The Long March 12, designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, is notable as the first Chinese rocket with a diameter of 3.8 meters, compared to the standard 3.35 meters set in the 1960s. Standing 62.6 meters tall, it is the second tallest in the Chinese rocket fleet, surpassed only by the 62.8-meter Long March 5.

This launch marked China's seventh space mission in 2026 and the 628th flight of the Long March rocket series.