China Long March 8A Rocket Launches GuoWang Internet Satellites in Hainan

China Long March 8A Rocket Launches GuoWang Internet Satellites in Hainan

🚀An improved China Long March 8A rocket blasted off at 16:52 Beijing time (08:52 am Universal Coordinated Time) on August 4, 2026, from Commercial Launch Pad 1 at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site in Hainan, successfully delivering nine more satellites, the 23rd batch of GuoWang low-Earth orbit (LEO) Internet satellites into orbit. The Long March 8A has further demonstrated how its payload capacity is suitable for high-density satellite constellation missions.🛰️

The GuoWang constellation is operated by China Satellite Network Group, a state-owned enterprise and backed by the Chinese government. China Satellite Network Group plans to provide worldwide Internet services; for now, China-focused services are the immediate priority. The mega-constellations’ small satellite platform weighs about 695 kilograms each. The satellites were made by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

After today’s launch, 186 GuoWang spacecraft are in orbit, functioning in and heading up to their operational orbits. This year, it is planned that 310 satellites will be deployed, followed by 900 in 2027, and 3,600 every year beginning in 2028 to sustain and grow the constellation. In the 2030s, up to 13,000 satellites could be in operational orbit.

Building upon upgrades first used on the Long March 8A’s previous mission a month ago, introducing the YF-75DB engine and propellant cooling hardware, today’s saw a series of small improvements such as the introduction of electrohydraulic servos as part of mass optimizations. This launch also acted as a ‘system-wide verification’ mission for last month’s upgrades.

Meanwhile, Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co. Ltd., operator of the commercial launch site, has also expanded the acceptable weather situations when this rocket can be delivered to the launch pad. Today’s was moved out on July 30th in the rain.

Back in March 2026, China Central Television reported that the Long March 8 series of launch vehicles, including the Long March 8 and 8A, is set to fly fifteen times in total this year, for eight more flights over the next five months. With current infrastructure at the launch site, the Long March 8 series is stated to be able to fly up to thirty times per year.

This mission was the 10th launch of a Long March 8A vehicle, the 17th launch of the Long March 8 series, and the 661st launch of the Long March launch vehicle series. This was also the 54th launch from China in 2026.

Image Credit: China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), Xinhua, Space Lens
Text Credit: CGTN/Jack C.
Date: Aug. 4, 2026

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