长征十二号发射国网九星 在轨突破200颗

On September 17th at 08:32 am China Standard Time (00:32 am Universal Coordinated Time), a Long March 12 lifted off from Commercial Launch Pad 2 at the Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, carrying a group of connectivity satellites into low Earth orbit. Being launched were nine Guowang satellites to add to the constellation in orbit, for its twenty-fifth deployment to date. All of the satellites being placed into orbit were made by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院微小卫星创新研究院). The GuoWang (国网) constellation is operated by China Satellite Network Group, a state-owned enterprise and wholly backed by the Chinese government. China Satellite Network Group plans to provide worldwide internet services; for now, China-focused services are the immediate priority. GuoWang satellites launched atop of the Long March 8A and the Long March 12 use the mega-constellations’ small satellite platform, weighing about 695 kilograms each. A large satellite platform, around thirty percent bigger and weighing up to 1,000 kilograms, is launched via the Long March 5B and Long March 6A. Both platforms utilize electric propulsion systems to maneuver in orbit, powered by two solar panels. After today’s launch, 204 GuoWang spacecraft are in orbit, functioning in and heading up to their operational orbits. This year, it is planned that 3101 satellites will be deployed, followed by 900 in 2027, and 3,600 every year beginning in 2028 to sustain and grow the constellation. In the 2030s, up to 13,000 satellites could be in operational orbit. After the successful release of payloads into orbit, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology said its teams stuck to a ‘strict and meticulous’ work style with all related risks assessed in advance, along with suitable testing work at the launch site. Today’s mission was the first of a new generation Long March launch vehicle following the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation’s push to fix a ‘severe quality challenge’. Once again, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Commercial Launch Vehicle Group Co Ltd (中国航天科技集团商业火箭有限公司) booked the Long March 12 as a suitable launch vehicle for China Satellite Network Group. Following today, they have procured four launch solutions from the Shanghai Academy, which is their majority owner, following missions in mid and late August, and earlier in September. This mission was the 8th launch of a Long March 12 vehicle, the 10th launch of the Shangha…