China deploys 20th group of internet satellites into orbit

China launched two carrier rockets early Friday morning, sending multiple satellites into space.

The first Chinese rocket to enter space in March, a Long March 8A, blasted off at 3:48 am from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center — a coastal spaceport in Wenchang, Hainan province, deploying the 20th group of low-orbit satellites in China's national space-based internet network.

The satellites were made by Shanghai-based Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

To date, the space internet system, which is likened to the Chinese version of SpaceX's Starlink, has about 160 satellites operating in low orbits following the latest deployment.

Upon its 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, the Long March 8A stands 50.5 meters tall and features a core booster and two side boosters. It has a liftoff weight of 371 metric tons and a liftoff thrust of about 480 tons.

The model is capable of transporting 7 tons of payloads to a typical sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 700 kilometers.

The launch marked the eighth Long March 8A mission to deploy low-orbit internet satellites.

At 6:33 am, a Long March 2D rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province and placed the Shiyan 30C and 30D experimental satellites into orbit to demonstrate Earth observation technologies.

The Long March 2D model stands at 40.6 meters and has a diameter of 3.35 meters and a liftoff weight of 251 tons. It is typically used to transport satellites to low-Earth or sun-synchronous orbits.

Both the rocket and the satellites were built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

So far, China has carried out 14 space missions this year.