China conducted two orbital launches in late September, deploying new satellites for the Guowang internet project and the Yaogan-40 series. A Long March 8A rocket launched from the Hainan site on September 23, while a Long March 6A departed from the Taiyuan center on September 24.
The Guowang satellites, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, reached circular orbits at an altitude of 1,100 kilometers. This national project, managed by China SatNet, aims to build a constellation of approximately 13,000 satellites to provide internet connectivity.
The Yaogan-40 satellites are intended for electromagnetic environment detection and technology experiments. They operate in near-polar orbits at 800 kilometers. Analysis suggests a fifth group of these satellites is required to complete the current orbital configuration.
With 70 launch attempts recorded in 2026, China plans to exceed 100 total launches this year. To achieve this goal, the country must conduct at least 31 missions in the fourth quarter. The upcoming schedule includes the Shenzhou-24 crewed mission expected in November.
