China sees increased frequency of commercial rocket launch

The frequency of China's commercial rocket launches is increasing due to the growing demand for low Earth orbit satellite constellations construction.

CAS Space is one of the major players in the commercial launch sector. On Sunday, the company's Lijian-1 Y18 carrier rocket sent nine satellites into space on the rocket series' 16th mission.

According to an expert from the company, the rapid development of satellite constellations in recent years has increased demand for launch windows and deployment speed. Consequently, commercial rocket launches are shifting from the previous "one mission, one preparation" approach to high-density, routine launches.

"Our early launches were primarily for a small number of experimental satellites. Nowadays, the tight schedule and high launch window demand of microsatellite deployment, combined with the strong demand for shared launch, require stable and reliable 'space shuttles.' This requires our rockets to shift from the previous build-to-order model to a continuous delivery capability based on batch production and scheduled shipments," said Meng Xiangfu, deputy chief commander of the Lijian-1 program.

The launch missions for the Lijian-1 has been booked up until the second half of 2027. The development team has established a pulsating production line with an annual production capacity of up to 30 rockets.

In addition, through the use of dedicated launch stations and process optimization, the test-and-launch cycle at the launch site can be reduced to less than 10 days, ensuring increased launch frequency through mass production and rapid turnaround.

"Airline-style rocket launches are characterized by four core elements: fixed schedules, rapid turnaround, bulk supply, and reliable fulfillment. At this stage, we have officially entered the era of airline-style launches, marking a transition from experimental launches to routine operations," said Sun Liangjie, deputy chief designer of the Lijian-1 carrier rocket.

Moving forward, the Lijian-1 rocket will conduct its first sea-based launch. By combining routine land-based launches with mobile sea-based launches, it will better meet the diverse mission requirements for satellite constellation deployment and rapid constellation replenishment.

China sees increased frequency of commercial rocket launch

The Cyberspace Administration of China has drafted a set of guidelines to ensure healthy and safe internet use by minors, laying out a series of regulations for relevant service providers.

The draft was made public on Friday and is open to public comment until Oct. 17.

The draft encourages the research, development and manufacture of smart terminal products specifically designed for minors and tailored to the laws and characteristics of their physical and mental development, as well as internet technologies and services conducive to the healthy growth of minors.

Minors shall not be exposed to online social networking services with strangers, virtual intimate relationship services, and online services that induce addiction in minors or are detrimental to their physical and mental health, the draft reads.

Internet services for minors under 16, such as online social networking services and artificial intelligence services that may affect minors' cognition, can only be provided through a minor mode, according to the draft.

It also clarifies the functions of the minor mode, which include identifying online information detrimental to minors' physical and mental health, protecting minors' personal information rights and interests, preventing minors from becoming addicted to the internet, and facilitating guardians in fulfilling their guardianship responsibilities.

As of December 2025, China had more than 200 million internet users aged 6 to 19, the 57th Statistical Report on China's Internet Development revealed.

With the increasingly evident impact of social media on minors' mental well-being, behavior and safety, a growing number of countries and regions have recently started to explore ways to raise the legal threshold for minors' use of social media platforms, said Wang Zhiqin, deputy director of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

The draft proposes a model with Chinese characteristics for protecting minors online, representing a positive response to the global trend toward strengthening online protection for minors, Wang said.

China drafts guidelines to strengthen online protection for minors