China launches 14th group of low-orbit internet satellites

China launched the 14th group of its low-orbit internet satellites into space on Saturday afternoon, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the leading State-owned space contractor. [Photo/Xinhua]

China launched the 14th group of its low-orbit internet satellites into space on Saturday afternoon, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the leading State-owned space contractor.

The satellites were designed and made by the China Academy of Space Technology, a CASC subsidiary in Beijing, and were lifted by a Long March 8A carrier rocket at 3:53 pm from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center, a coastal spaceport in Wenchang, Hainan province, and soon arrived in their orbital positions, CASC said in a news release.

This year, about 100 satellites have been sent into space for the in-orbit networking of the country's massive space-based internet system, which is often likened to the Chinese version of SpaceX's Starlink.

Upon completion, the Chinese mega-constellation will consist of about 13,000 satellites operating in low-Earth orbit to create an internet system with worldwide coverage.

Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, also a CASC subsidiary, the Long March 8A is 50.5 meters tall, and has a liftoff weight of 371 metric tons and a liftoff thrust of about 480 tons.

The model is mainly tasked with deploying satellites to sun-synchronous orbits, and is capable of transporting as much as 7 metric tons of payloads to a typical sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 700 kilometers.

The launch marked the 80th space mission in China and the 612th flight of the Long March rocket fleet. It was the fifth time for the Long March 8A model to deploy low-orbit internet satellites.