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China Launches 4 Rockets in 45 Hours: A New Era of Space Dominance?
M
Moneycontrol•21-09-2026, 15:38
China Launches 4 Rockets in 45 Hours: A New Era of Space Dominance?
- •China executed an extraordinary burst of space activity, launching four different rockets in roughly 45 hours from three separate sites on September 15 and 16.
- •All four missions successfully reached orbit and delivered satellites, showcasing China's growing ability to conduct high-frequency launches.
- •The rapid sequence included launches by state-backed programs and private Chinese companies like LandSpace and Orienspace, highlighting the commercial sector's increasing role.
- •A major driver for these launches is China's rapidly expanding satellite-internet infrastructure, with missions supporting constellations like Qianfan (SpaceSail) and SatNet.
- •This four-launch streak signals a shift in the global space industry, emphasizing launch frequency, satellite constellations, and commercial launch companies over traditional metrics.
Key Questions Answered
China launched four different rockets between September 15 and 16, including LandSpace's Zhuque-2E from Jiuquan, Orienspace's Gravity-1 from a sea-based platform, a Long March 12 from Wenchang, and a Kuaizhou-11 from Jiuquan.
Beijing is increasing its launch frequency to support rapidly expanding satellite-internet infrastructure, including the Qianfan, SpaceSail, and SatNet constellations which require thousands of planned satellites to be deployed at a sustained pace.
No, the four rockets in this 45-hour sequence were not recovered for reuse, meaning the achievement demonstrates high launch cadence rather than a cadence of reusable rockets.
