The satellites, developed by Shanghai-based Genesat, were launched aboard a Long March 6A rocket at 7:06 p.m., entering their designated orbits shortly after liftoff. The network, previously known as the G60, aims to provide global high-speed, secure broadband internet. It plans to deploy over 10,000 satellites in low Earth orbit by 2030, according to operator Spacesail.

The initial batch of 18 satellites was launched in early August by a Long March 6A rocket from the same location. Those satellites were built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Innovation Academy for Microsatellites in Shanghai.

The Spacesail Constellation aims to launch 648 satellites by the end of 2025 as part of its first-phase deployment. The network has been compared to SpaceX's Starlink due to its similar mission of providing worldwide internet coverage.

The Long March 6A, designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, is a medium-lift rocket featuring a 50-meter liquid-fueled core booster and four solid-fueled side boosters. The rocket is equipped with engines that produce a combined thrust of 240 metric tons and is capable of carrying satellites to various orbits, including sun-synchronous and low-Earth orbits.

In another mission, China launched a Gaofen 12E remote-sensing satellite on Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. The satellite, lifted by a Long March 4C rocket at 7:45 a.m., will support Earth observation activities such as land mapping, urban planning, agricultural monitoring, and disaster management.

The Gaofen program, initiated in 2010 as one of China's major national science and technology projects, has launched over 30 satellites, providing crucial imaging and data services for multiple sectors within the country.

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