China Adopts Mass Production for Commercial Launch Rockets
China is now mass-producing rockets to satisfy its growing demand for commercial launches with engineers working to improve flexibility for a wider range of mission requirements.
Launching at 3:48 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, from the sea near the city of Rizhao in east China's Shandong Province, a Smart Dragon-3 rocket sent the Geely-05 constellation of satellites into planned orbits.
This was the rocket model's second flight for the Geely constellation within a month, showcasing its ability to efficiently meet commercial launch needs.
"We've adopted a mass production method for our rockets to meet increased market demand for frequent launches. This means that we no longer wait for a specific mission before producing the rocket bodies, but instead manufacture them in batches in advance. When we get a mission, I just need to select one of the rockets to carry out the launch. By doing so, our delivery capability has been enhanced," said Jin Xin, chief commander for Smart Dragon-3 rocket launches with China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
Since its maiden launch in 2022, the rocket's systems have undergone constant upgrading, while redundancies in its configuration have been streamlined.
"Our rockets have been improving constantly. Take the Smart Dragon-3 rocket as an example. We've upgraded the software of its control system, enhancing its safety and mission adaptability," said Jin.
The Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) rocket was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a subsidiary of CASC, the country’s state-owned main space contractor. The four-stage rocket is operated by China Rocket, a commercial spinoff from CASC.
Release Date: Sept. 10, 2025
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