Without SpaceX's Starlink, China Launched Satellites From Its Own Constellation

The first 18 satellites of the constellation known as Qianfan were launched.

Known above all for its work in the field of reusable rockets, SpaceX has also been making headlines for its constellation of Starlink satellites, which allow high-speed internet to reach remote areas.

 

China seems to be a fan of the idea, which is why it has now started launching its own satellites, which will one day form part of the so-called Qianfan constellation (which, according to Ars Technica, means "Thousands of Sails").

The publication says that Qianfan's first 18 satellites were launched on a Long Mach 6A rocket on Tuesday 6th, from Shanxi province in the north of the country. It is known that, initially, the Chinese government plans to have 1,296 of these satellites at an altitude of 1,160 kilometers.