China launched a Long March-8 carrier rocket on Friday in the southern island province of Hainan, sending a new satellite group into space.
The rocket lifted off at 2:34 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site. The satellite group, which is the 12th batch that will constitute the Spacesail Constellation, entered into the preset orbit successfully.
After the latest launch, the total number of satellites in the Spacesail Constellation has reached 200, accelerating the formation of China's large-scale commercial low-orbit satellite network.
The Long March-8 is a new-generation medium-lift liquid-fueled carrier rocket, primarily developed for commercial satellite constellation deployment missions. This launch marked the third flight of the Long March-8 rocket in 2026, just 18 days after its previous mission on May 17.
China launches new satellite group for commercial constellation
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing on Friday to discuss relations between their two countries, saying that China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Laos.
Noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos, Li said China is also willing to deepen cooperation with Laos in the fields of trade and investment, railways, energy and minerals, the digital economy and people-to-people exchanges, accelerate the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor, enhance multilateral cooperation and coordination, promote the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future to a higher level, and continuously improve the well-being of the two peoples.
At the meeting, Thongloun Sisoulith, also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, expressed appreciation for China's long-standing support and assistance to Laos. He said Laos will firmly adhere to the one-China principle, strengthen practical cooperation with China in various fields, and promote the building of a Laos-China community with a shared future to achieve more results.
Chinese premier meets visiting Lao president on relations
