Official reports from CNSA or major news outlets covering space missions

China Successfully Launches Long March-5B Rocket at 6 PM, Sending 552nd Flight of Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Dec 16, 2024, 11:58 AM

On December 16, 2024, China successfully launched a group of low Earth orbit satellites intended for a satellite internet constellation. The launch took place at 6:00 PM Beijing Time from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, utilizing the Long March-5B rocket along with the Yuanzheng-2 upper stage. This mission marked the 552nd flight of the Long March rocket series. In total, there are currently around 11,000 active satellites in Earth's orbit, with over 7,600 in low Earth orbit, highlighting the growing presence of satellite technology globally.