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China Launches First GuoWang Satellites to Rival SpaceX's Starlink

Dec 16, 2024, 12:14 PM

China has successfully launched the first group of satellites for its GuoWang satellite internet constellation, aiming to rival SpaceX's Starlink. The satellites were launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province at 6:00 p.m. Beijing Time on Monday. The launch utilized a Long March-5B carrier rocket with a Yuanzheng-2 upper stage, marking the 552nd mission of the Long March series carrier rockets. This initiative, managed by China Satellite Network Group Co Ltd, headquartered in Xiongan with a registered capital of 10 billion yuan, seeks to provide global broadband internet coverage and aligns with China's national security objectives. The GuoWang project, which was first announced in 2020, plans to deploy nearly 13,000 satellites.