China launches group of communications satellites

China launched a group of communications satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province on Saturday afternoon, placing the 13th batch of space-based assets of the Spacesail Constellation in orbit.

The satellites were carried by a Long March 6A rocket that blasted off at 5:30 pm and soon arrived in their predetermined orbital positions.

Funded and operated by the Shanghai-based State-owned satellite company Spacesail, the Spacesail Constellation will be used to provide high-speed, secure and reliable broadband internet services to global customers. The company plans to deploy more than 15,000 satellites in low-altitude orbits.

It is one of the two massive internet networks China is now working to construct in outer space.

Designed and built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the Long March 6A rocket model is a new-generation medium-lift launch vehicle, consisting of a 50-meter, liquid-propelled core booster and four solid-fuel side boosters. The model 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.

Saturday's launch marked the 48th space mission in China this year and the 655th flight of the Long March rocket family.